Clinical Efficacy and Guidelines for Hydroxychloroquine in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Efficacy and Recommendations

The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) guidelines state that hydroxychloroquine has a weak disease-modifying effect in rheumatoid arthritis, with limited clinical and no structural efficacy 1
Hydroxychloroquine is primarily recommended for patients with mild rheumatoid arthritis, with a limited place in current treatment algorithms 1
The drug does not inhibit structural damage sufficiently, unlike methotrexate or sulfasalazine, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis 2

Hydroxychloroquine is used as part of triple DMARD therapy, which includes methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine, to provide additive clinical benefit in patients with rheumatoid arthritis 3