Effect of Hydroxychloroquine on Lipid Levels: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis

It has been suggested that hydroxychloroquine may have positive effects on LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglyceride levels; however, the hypolipidemic activities of this drug are still uncertain.

The aim of this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was to explore the effect of hydroxychloroquine on circulating lipid concentrations.

Randomized controlled trials examining the impact of hydroxychloroquine on lipid parameters were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model and sensitivity analysis through the leave one-out method.

Meta-analysis showed that patients receiving hydroxychloroquine therapy significantly decreased total cholesterol (WMD: 0.18 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.28, -0.08, I² = 6%, p = 0.0004), LDL-C (WMD: -0.21 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.36, -0.06, I² = 75%, p = 0.006), triglycerides (WMD: -0.09 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.15, -0.04, I² = 22%, p = 0.001), and non-HDL-C (WMD: -0.28 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.45, -0.12, I² = 0%, p = 0.0009), and increased HDL-C concentrations (WMD: 0.03 mmol/L, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.06, I² = 0%, p = 0.03).

Our results suggest that hydroxychloroquine improves lipid parameters by reducing total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, non-HDL-C, and increasing HDL-C levels.