No histologic evidence of foetal cardiotoxicity following exposure to maternal hydroxychloroquine

Deborah Friedman1, Leif Lovig2, Marc Halushka3

  • 1Paediatric Cardiology, New York Medical College, USA.

It is currently recommended that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) be maintained during pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Recent data suggest that this Toll-like receptor inhibitor may also reduce the recurrence rate of anti-SSA/Ro associated congenital heart block (CHB). This case report describes a unique situation in which a CHB-afflicted, HCQ-exposed pregnancy was electively terminated. The heart did not reveal any characteristic features of cardiotoxicity, providing further evidence supporting the safety of foetal exposure to HCQ.