Chloroquine clinical use

The drug is solely a blood schizonticide. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are also used in autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis. it is the drug of choice in the treatment of erythrocytic P. falciparum malaria, except in resistant strains. Chloroquine is less eff ective against P. vivax malaria. It is highly specific for the asexual form of plasmodia. Chloroquine is also effective in the treatment of extraintestinal amebiasis. [Note: The antiinflammatory action of chloroquine explains its occasional use in rheumatoid arthritis and discoid lupus erythematosus.]