USE OF ANTIMALARIAL DRUGS AS "DESLUDGING" AGENTS IN VASCULAR DISEASE PROCESSES

Abstract

In the treatment of obstructive vascular diseases the use of drugs that inhibit sludging of erythrocytes is as logical as the use of anticoagulants. The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine sulfate is known to reduce the frequency of thrombotic and embolic phenomena in animals by a marked desludging action; it was administered to 44 human subjects in whom sludging had been noted in the bulbar conjunctiva. All had vascular diseases, and 22 had had previous myocardial infarctions. The initial dosage was 200 mg. four times a day for the first week; the maintenance dosage was 200 mg. thrice daily. Objective evidence of improved conjunctival circulation was obtained, and many patients, particularly those with angina pectoris and intermittent claudication, showed clinical evidence of improvement.