A recent study found that regularly checking blood levels of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ, known commercially as Plaquenil®) may reduce the need for emergency room visits and hospitalizations for people living with lupus. HCQ is a widely used, safe medication for treating lupus, but not taking it as prescribed can triple the risk of lupus-related hospital visits.
Researchers studied 181 people with lupus and monitored their HCQ blood levels during routine visits. They discovered that people with HCQ levels in the therapeutic range (750-1200 ng/ml) were 66% less likely to need acute care, like ER visits or hospital stays. The study also found that certain groups, such as people of Black race or Hispanic ethnicity as well as those with public insurance (e.g., Medicaid) were 3-4 times more likely to require acute care. However, when people in these groups had HCQ levels within the therapeutics range, their need for hospital visits dropped by 95%.
Despite its potential benefits, HCQ monitoring is not routinely done, partly due to cost and insurance coverage issues. This research highlights the importance of checking HCQ levels to improve health outcomes for people living with lupus. However, more research is needed to understand the underlying association and impact of HCQ level monitoring on acute care visits in lupus. Learn more about HCQ benefits, side effects and dosing.
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