Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
10:26
Toxicological Assays for Testing Effects of an Epigenetic Drug on Development, Fecundity and Survivorship of Malaria Mosquitoes
Published on: January 16, 2015
Antimalarial drugs, pregnancy and lactation
1University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030-1310.
Lupus
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Continuing antimalarial therapy, such as hydroxychloroquine, during pregnancy is likely safe for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their fetuses. Further research is needed on hydroxychloroquine in breast milk for nursing mothers.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Obstetrics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) significantly increases fetal loss risk.
- Discontinuing antimalarial therapy during pregnancy can trigger SLE flares.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety of continuing antimalarial therapy throughout pregnancy in SLE patients.
- To assess the risk to fetuses and mothers when antimalarial therapy is maintained during gestation.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical experience and existing literature on antimalarial use in pregnant SLE patients.
- Analysis of outcomes for pregnancies where chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine was continued.
Main Results:
- Previous findings suggest that lupus patients on daily chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine can have normal offspring.
- Current evidence supports the probable safety of continuing antimalarial therapy during pregnancy, though large studies are lacking.
- Minimal data exist on hydroxychloroquine secretion in breast milk, necessitating further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Continuing antimalarial therapy during pregnancy appears safe for SLE patients and their fetuses.
- More research is required to determine the safety of breastfeeding while on hydroxychloroquine therapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
01:24Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as a...
01:23Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...
01:29Malaria
Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
01:15Anthelminthic Agents
Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
01:21Antiprotozoal Agents
Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...