Chloroquine Myopathy

Chloroquine is 7-chloro-4(4-diethylamino-1-methylbutylamino)quinoline.

The patient has a history of chloroquine therapy, typically chronic.

Clinical features of chloroquine myopathy may include:

(1) proximal muscle weakness

(2) dysphagia

(3) myasthenia-like syndrome

Laboratory features:

(1) elevated serum CK

(2) elevated serum LDH

(3) elevated muscle-specific enzymes

Pathologic features:

(1) vacuolar myopathy

(2) "curvilinear bodies" on electron microscopy

(3) accumulation of tau proteins in autophagic lysosomal vacuoles.

The diagnosis involves:

(1) exclusion of other causes of myopathy

(2) reversal of findings after discontinuation of chloroquine therapy