Plaquenil May Reduce Diabetes Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), one of the older and less expensive treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and some other autoimmune diseases, may improve glucose tolerance and prevent diabetes mellitus. In vitro and animal studies indicate that antimalarial drugs like plaquenil improve insulin secretion and peripheral insulin sensitivity. According to the study published in the July 11, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania examined the association between plaquenil treatment and the risk of diabetes in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

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• Diabetes Risk Factors
• Warning Signs of Diabetes

There were 4,905 adults with rheumatoid arthritis in the study that had no initial diagnosis or treatment for diabetes. Of the study participants, 1,808 had taken plaquenil but 3,097 had never taken the drug. The patients were followed for 21.5 years (from January 1983 through July 2004). Study results revealed that patients who had taken plaquenil had a 38 percent lower risk of developing diabetes than the patients who had never taken plaquenil. The risk was even less with longer use of plaquenil. Patients who took plaquenil for more than 4 years had a 77 percent lower risk of diabetes compared to patients who had not taken the drug.

More Related Resources:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Explained With Pictures
• Rheumatoid Arthritis 101: Free E-Course Newsletter
• Plaquenil Safety: 10 Things You Should Know
• Plaquenil Dosage, Side Effects, and Drug Interactions
• 10 Things You Should Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis
• How to Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

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