indicated that the drug hydroxychloroquine reduces blood sugar levels and the risk of diabetes. relationship between RA, hydroxychloroquine use and diabetes. …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Galbreath Arthritis Foundation 404 965-7595 cgalbreath@arthritisorg
Meera Venkatraman Arthritis Foundation 404 965-7528 mvenkatraman@arthritisorg
REDUCED RISK OF DIABETES WITH HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 25, 2008 Older adults who take hydroxychloroquine for their
rheumatoid arthritis RA have a reduced risk of developing diabetes, according to research funded in part by the Arthritis Foundation and presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco Arthritis is a frequent comorbid condition for adults with diabetes Previous reports have indicated that the drug hydroxychloroquine reduces blood sugar levels and the risk of diabetes Because hydroxychloroquine is a safe and inexpensive treatment for RA, scientists from Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston decided to explore the relationship between RA, hydroxychloroquine use and diabetes The research team examined medical records of 25,310 people with RA who had received at least one prescription for an RA medication Those who had received a diagnosis of diabetes or had received a diabetes medication
prescription prior to the beginning of the study were excluded The scientists then determined how many people with RA developed diabetes during the course of the study They found 640 people with a new diagnosis of diabetes or who began taking diabetes medication
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Reduced Risk of Diabetes with Hydroxychloroquine / Page 2
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ople who took hydroxychloroquine alone for their RA were 33 percent less likely to develop diabetes than people who took methotrexate alone Those who took oral corticosteroids increased their risk of developing diabetes as much as two-fold Lead researcher and recipient of an Arthritis Foundation grant Daniel Solomon, MD, says, We found a reduction in risk of incident diabetes associated with hydroxychloroquine Future studies examining the role of hydroxychloroquine in patients with rheumatic disease who are at risk of diabetes would be worth considering
About the Arthritis Foundation The Arthritis Foundation is the leading health organization addressing the needs of some 46 million Americans living with arthritis, the nations most common cause of disability Founded in 1948, with headquarters in Atlanta, the Arthritis Foundation has multiple service
points located throughout the country The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis research in the world, funding more than 400 million in research grants since 1948 Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis Information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-283-7800 or wwwarthritisorg
Source:southwesthealth.org
