Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
07:27

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease

Published on: July 18, 2014

Heart transplantation in a patient with chloroquine-induced cardiomyopathy

Jeffrey H Freihage1, Nehu C Patel, William R Jacobs

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Loyola University Health System, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA. jfreih@lumc.edu

The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation : the Official Publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
|February 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

This is the first report of heart transplantation following chloroquine-induced cardiomyopathy (CIC). Long-term chloroquine use led to severe heart failure resistant to treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Chloroquine is an antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drug.
  • Long-term use of chloroquine can have adverse effects on multiple organs.

Observation:

  • A patient developed restrictive cardiomyopathy after 6 years of chloroquine treatment.
  • The cardiomyopathy progressed to severe congestive heart failure (CHF).

Findings:

  • Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) confirmed chloroquine-induced cardiomyopathy (CIC).
  • The patient's CHF was refractory to medical management.
  • Heart transplantation (HT) was successfully performed.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential cardiotoxicity of long-term chloroquine use.
  • Early recognition and monitoring for CIC are crucial in patients on long-term chloroquine therapy.
  • Heart transplantation may be a viable option for end-stage CIC.

More Related Videos

Testing the Efficacy of Pharmacological Agents in a Pericardial Target Delivery Model in the Swine10:05

Testing the Efficacy of Pharmacological Agents in a Pericardial Target Delivery Model in the Swine

Published on: July 7, 2016

Implantation of the Syncardia Total Artificial Heart16:11

Implantation of the Syncardia Total Artificial Heart

Published on: July 18, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care01:29

Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care

Managing cardiomyopathy involves addressing underlying or precipitating causes, treating heart failure with medications, and implementing dietary changes and a balanced exercise and rest regimen.Lifestyle ModificationsCardiomyopathy patients should adopt a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and manage heart failure. A personalized exercise and rest plan helps maintain physical fitness without overstraining the heart. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco is essential to prevent further damage to...
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare heart muscle disease characterized by impaired ventricular filling due to stiffened ventricular walls, leading to significant diastolic dysfunction.EtiologyRestrictive cardiomyopathy can arise from both inherited and acquired diseases, many of which are systemic. It is categorized into four main types: infiltrative, storage, non-infiltrative, and endomyocardial diseases.Infiltrative diseases, such as amyloidosis, lead to RCM by depositing amyloid...
Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents

Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...