ArticleRheumatology international2026
Frequency and clinical characteristics of hydroxychloroquine-induced pigmentation in Japanese paediatric patients: a retrospective cohort study.
Article in Rheumatology international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
To investigate the frequency and characteristics of HCQ-induced pigmentation in Japanese paediatric patients. This retrospective cohort study enrolled Japanese children who received HCQ for ≥ 3 months. Data were collected from medical records, caregiver or patient questionnaires on awareness of pigmentation, and physical examination findings. The primary outcome was the frequency of HCQ-induced pigmentation. Twenty-six patients were included. Of these, 25 (96.2%) were female (median age: 15 years; first to third quartiles [Q1-Q3]: 12.0-16.8). Eleven patients had pigmentation (42.3%). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that the median time to the onset of pigmentation was 42 months (95% confidence interval: 30-not reached), and no new cases occurred after 48 months. The median observation period in the pigmentation and non-pigmentation group was 46 months (Q1-Q3: 27-51) and 24 months (Q1-Q3: 6-54), respectively. The cumulative HCQ dose per body weight was 4.0 g/kg (Q1-Q3: 2.7-5.4) in the pigmentation group and 3.0 g/kg (Q1-Q3: 0.6-5.5) in the non-pigmentation group. The Fitzpatrick skin types in the pigmentation group vs. non-pigmentation group were: type II (18.2% vs. 60%), type III (36.4% vs. 20%), type IV (36.4% vs. 20%), and type V (9.1% vs. 0%). Six of the 11 patients with pigmentation discontinued HCQ, as a result of which three experienced improvement in their pigmentation. All the improvements were noticeable within 2-6 months after discontinuing the therapy. HCQ-induced pigmentation may not be a rare adverse effect in children. Although the pigmentation may improve after discontinuing HCQ, treatment continuation or discontinuation should be carefully considered according to the activity of the underlying disease.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42400606What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.