Chloroquine and Bleaching of Hair

Abstract

BRITISH-MEDICAL JOURNAI, has not been encountered in the lung in the absence of an accompanying adrenal tumour. Nevertheless, we concede that the question is debatable. On the wider subject of bronchial invasion by metastatic tumours in general, it was formerly thought that this phenomenon was rare. Seiler, Claggett, and McDonald' reviewed

Drug-induced hair colour changes

“…Chloroquine (CHL) is an antimalarial drug approved by both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Lightening on the hair scalp, and less frequently on the eyelashes, eyebrows, moustache and body hair, has been shown to be induced by CHL administered at a dosage starting from 250 mg daily [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Hair hypopigmentation (a brightening of any hair colour leading to whitening) occurred from four weeks up to 12 months after treatment initiation, and was reversible after discontinuation or dosage reduction.…”

“…Hypopigmentation was indeed more common in patients with blond, light brown, or red hair, suggesting a greater interaction between CHL and pheomelanin rather than eumelanin [21]. However, even subjects with darker hair may experience hair lightening [13,14,17].…”

Scleroderma with Bullous Lesions

“…Aralen may cause leukopenia and cumula tive toxicity. Occasional instances of bleaching [44] (depigmentation of the hair), acute porphyria and coproporphyrinuria have been reported following Aralen intake [45]. It may cause pruritic and burning erythematous, discrete, confluent and widespread eruptions.…”

Chloroquine-Induced Hypopigmentation of Hair and Freckles

“…On reexamination (Dec 3,1982), it was noted that the hypopigmented hair zone had moved 2 cm higher and the freckles had darkened to their normal color (Fig 3). Under light microscopic examination, the hypopigmented portion of the hair shaft was homogeneous, whereas the normally colored portion was irregular (Fig 4).…”