Low hydroxychloroquine blood levels in patients who have had gastric bypass surgery

What is it about?

Gastric bypass surgery, also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), can result in the malabsorption of medications, requiring the use of higher than usual doses in order to achieve a therapeutic effect. We describe the results of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) blood levels in three RYGB patients with systemic autoimmune disease taking standard HCQ doses, and their associated disease activity levels. HCQ dose increases above the usual recommended doses, using HCQ levels as a guide, achieved better drug levels. Two of the three patients achieved better disease activity control as a result.

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