The Influence of Plaquenil/Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on Insulin Secretion
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
1969-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Antimalarials such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), are among the oldest prescribed drugs still
used in clinical practice. Relatively inexpensive and well tolerated, these drugs have been
recognized to be effective in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Interestingly, there is growing evidence of their
beneficial impact on cardiovascular risk, particularly diabetes. HCQ therapy can improve
balance in patients with unbalanced diabetes. This drug therapy may be a new therapeutic
approach for diabetes. There is need for a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible
for the improvement of the metabolic response to drug treatment. The investigators
hypothesize that treatment with a drug improves the function of the beta cell and its ability
to secrete insulin in response to glucose. The investigators will examine the impact of
short-term therapy for HCQ in beta cell function in healthy volunteers and in patients with
type 2 diabetes.