Hydroxychloroquine Levels throughout Pregnancies Complicated by Rheumatic Disease: Implications for Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
Pregnancies in women with active rheumatic disease often result in poor neonatal outcomes. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduces disease activity and flares; however, pregnancy causes significant physiologic changes that may alter HCQ levels and lead to therapeutic failure. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate HCQ concentrations during pregnancy and relate levels to outcomes.


METHODS
We performed an observational study of pregnant patients with rheumatic disease who were taking HCQ from a single center during 2013-2016. Serum samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Primary HCQ exposure was categorized as nontherapeutic (≤ 100 ng/ml) or therapeutic (> 100 ng/ml). Categorical outcomes were analyzed using Fisher's exact test and continuous outcomes using linear regression models, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kruskal-Wallis test, t test, and ANOVA.


RESULTS
We analyzed 145 samples from 50 patients with rheumatic disease, 56% of whom had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). HCQ concentration varied widely among individuals at each trimester. Mean physician's global assessment scores in patients with SLE were significantly higher in those with average drug levels ≤ 100 ng/ml compared to > 100 ng/ml (0.93 vs 0.32, p = 0.01). Of patients with SLE, 83% with average drug levels ≤ 100 ng/ml delivered prematurely (n = 6), compared to only 21% with average levels > 100 ng/ml (n = 19; p = 0.01). HCQ levels were not associated with prematurity or disease activity in non-SLE patients.


CONCLUSION
With both high and low HCQ levels associated with preterm birth and disease activity in SLE, further study is necessary to understand HCQ disposition throughout pregnancy and to clarify the relationship between drug levels and outcomes.
['Balevic|Stephen J|SJ|0000-0002-4016-1680', 'Cohen-Wolkowiez|Michael|M|', 'Eudy|Amanda M|AM|', 'Green|Thomas P|TP|', 'Schanberg|Laura E|LE|', 'Clowse|Megan E B|MEB|']
D000328:Adult D018501:Antirheumatic Agents D005260:Female D006801:Humans D006886:Hydroxychloroquine D007231:Infant, Newborn D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic D011247:Pregnancy D011248:Pregnancy Complications D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE PREGNANCY SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS