Hypoglycemia: an unusual adverse reaction to chloroquine
Abu-Shakra, M.; Lee, P.
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 12(1): 95
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-856X PMID: 8162653 Document Number: 427675
The case of a 56-year-old Canadian man with an 11-year history of psoriatic arthropathy with concurrent skin and articular manifestations is reported. There was a past history of vagotomy and pyloroplasty. In 1979 he was started on 250 mg chloroquine/day and almost immediately started to complain of episodes of light-headedness, faintness and sweating. These occurred between 2 and 3 times a week and were relieved by eating. After discontinuation of the chloroquine his symptoms disappeared. Within 3 weeks of starting chloroquine again the symptoms reappeared and he suffered a major epileptic seizure. Investigations showed an abnormal 5 hour glucose tolerance test and reactive hypoglycaemia, a common complication of vagotomy and pyloroplasty. It is thought that the chloroquine aggravated his hypoglycaemia leading to symptoms. This is believed to be the first report of this complication of chloroquine therapy.