Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025
High-Throughput Cardiotoxicity Screening Using Mature Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte Monolayers
Published on: March 24, 2023
Hydroxychloroquine Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Case Series
Artur Schneider1, Jonna Sadhana2, Maximiliano Diaz Menindez1
11Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.
Insights
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) cardiotoxicity is a rare condition from chronic use, causing cardiomyopathy. Prompt diagnosis and stopping the drug are crucial to prevent disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is frequently used for autoimmune conditions.
- Chronic HCQ use can lead to a rare but serious cardiotoxicity.
- This cardiotoxicity manifests as a drug-induced cardiomyopathy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical features and diagnostic findings of HCQ-induced cardiotoxicity.
- To highlight the importance of early recognition and intervention.
- To present a case series of biopsy-proven HCQ cardiotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive case series of ten patients.
- Review of patient history, physical examinations, and advanced imaging.
- Inclusion of endomyocardial biopsy results for definitive diagnosis.
Main Results:
- All ten patients were diagnosed with biopsy-proven HCQ cardiotoxicity.
- Cardiotoxicity was associated with chronic HCQ use.
- The underlying mechanism involves acquired lysosomal storage defects.
Conclusions:
- Early recognition of HCQ cardiotoxicity is essential.
- Discontinuation of HCQ is the primary treatment.
- Endomyocardial biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis.
Abstract:
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) induced cardiotoxicity is a rare diagnosis and is often associated with chronic use of the medication. It has been shown that chronic HCQ use is associated with a drug-induced cardiomyopathy mainly driven by acquired lysosomal storage defects leading to hypertrophy and conduction abnormalities. As the only proven treatment is the discontinuation of the offending agent, prompt recognition is required to avoid further exposure to the drug and potential progression of disease. History, physical examination and advanced imaging modalities are useful diagnostic tools, but more invasive testing with an endomyocardial biopsy is required for definitive diagnosis. We present a descriptive case series of ten patients that were diagnosed with biopsy proven HCQ cardiotoxicity.
