Hydroxychloroquine is widely used for the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Although new recommendations exist for hydroxychloroquine dosing, there is still uncertainty about the dosage that will elicit a satisfactory response in CLE while limiting adverse effects, specifically retinopathy.

To summarize hydroxychloroquine dosages, outcomes, and adverse effects in the treatment of CLE, focusing on retinopathy.

A comprehensive literature search from inception to December 2018 was performed in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and The Cochrane Library (Wiley). Studies were screened against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Twelve studies were selected and included 5 retrospective studies, 3 prospective studies, 2 case series, and 2 randomized controlled trials. These studies show that a hydroxychloroquine dosage up to 400 mg/d is effective for most CLE patients (range of effectiveness, 50%-97%), with few adverse effects. One incidence of retinopathy, after a very high cumulative dose, was reported across all 12 studies (852 total patients).

Because retinopathy and other serious adverse effects may not appear until much later, many of these studies are limited by short follow-up time.

This evidence suggests that hydroxychloroquine for CLE is effective at 400 mg/d, with an exceedingly low incidence of retinopathy and other adverse effects.