[Chloroquine neuromyopathies: 4 cases during antimalarial prevention]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Chloroquine is an antimalarial and antirheumatic drug.
• Neuropathy is a potential adverse effect of chloroquine therapy.

Observation:

• Four young women developed neuropathy on low-dose prophylactic chloroquine.
• Clinical and electrophysiological findings indicated neurogenic damage, not myogenic.
• Muscle and nerve biopsies showed minimal changes, with one case of demyelination.

Findings:

• Neurogenic lesions were predominant in all cases.
• High chloroquine levels and slow elimination were observed in one patient.
• Discontinuation of chloroquine led to significant motor deficit recovery.

Implications:

• Low-dose chloroquine can cause neuropathy, particularly in young women.
• Neuropathy may present with neurogenic signs despite minimal biopsy findings.
• Early detection and discontinuation of chloroquine are crucial for recovery.