Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Monitoring Dynamic Growth of Retinal Vessels in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 2, 2021
[Hydroxychloroquine during pregnancy: a review of retinal toxicity in the newborns]
Naoual Tarfaoui1, Elisabeth Autret-Leca, Samuel Mazjoub
1Centre régional de Pharmacovigilance et d'Information sur le Médicament, Service de Pharmacologie clinique, Tours, France.
Objective:
The objective of this study is to review the published data on ocular toxicity in newborns after in utero exposure to hydroxychloroquine.
Methods:
All publications related ophthalmologic follow-up of newborns or infants who were exposed to hydroxychloroquine during pregnancy were selected.
Results:
Nine studies were analyzed, concerning 246 infants for which an ophthalmological examination was available. None of the infants had signs of ocular toxicity at the clinical stage. Among the 31 infants having electrophysiologics explorations, 4 had suggestive signs of retinal toxicity at the preclinical stage. This could probably be explained by a low cumulative dose, the immaturity of the fetal retina and the low light stimulation in utero. However, without a remote monitoring of infants, it is difficult to conclude to the absence of functional impairment.
Conclusion:
Data are not for a major risk of retinal toxicity associated with exposure in utero to hydroxychloroquine.
Related Concept Videos
Teratogenicity
The Retina
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

