Successful Treatment of Psoriasis-like Lesions in HIV Infected Patients in Uganda with Chloroquine

Abstract

The effect of chloroquine in the treatment of psoriasis remains controversial. Treatment of psoriasis in HIV infection is not well described. Chloroquine has been shown to have direct effects on both the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and on the psoriasis disease process. The effect of chloroquine in HIV infected patients with psoriasis has not been well studied.

We report on the effect of chloroquine on psoriasis-like lesions in three HIV infected patients who were not on antiretroviral therapy. Three consecutive HIV positive patients with CD4 cell count below 200cells/mm3 had unequivocal improvement of their psoriasis-like lesions after 2 weeks of a daily dose of 150mg of chloroquine.

In conclusion, chloroquine may be useful in the treatment of psoriasis-like lesions in patients with HIV infection particularly in resource poor settings. Ideally, a controlled clinical trial will be needed to confirm this.