Expanding horizons for clinical applications of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and related structural analogues

Ashutosh M Shukla; Aparna Wagle Shukla

doi:10.7573/dic.2019-9-1

Expanding horizons for clinical applications of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and related structural analogues

Drugs Context. 2019 Nov 25:8:2019-9-1. doi: 10.7573/dic.2019-9-1. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Ashutosh M Shukla^{1

2}, Aparna Wagle Shukla³

Affiliations

¹ North Florida/South Georgia, Veteran Healthcare System, Gainesville, FL, USA.
² Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
³ Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

Abstract

Several experimental and clinical studies have transformed the traditional antimalarial role of chloroquine (CHQ) and related structural analogues to potent therapeutic agents for a host of nonmalarial indications. The expanding clinical applicability for these drugs includes rheumatological and cardiovascular disorders (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), oncology, and a variety of nonmalarial infections. These clinical advancements are primarily related to pleiotropic pharmacological actions of these drugs, including immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory properties, and capabilities of inducing autophagy and apoptosis at a cellular level. Historically, many clinical benefits in nonmalarial indications were first recognized through serendipitous observations; however, with numerous ongoing systematic clinical studies, the clinical horizons of these drugs have a promising future.

Keywords: antimalarials; cardiovascular disease; chloroquine; chronic kidney disease; hydroxychloroquine; rheumatology.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding