[Chloroquine maculopathy and prevention of malaria].

PURPOSE

Chloroquine maculopathy is a major complication observed during prophylactic treatment of malaria. We present here 18 cases recently documented at Lomé Teaching Hospital.

METHOD

Retrospective data of patients presenting with macular fluoroscopic bull's eye are analysed, all had a history of prophylactic treatment for malaria.

RESULTS

These patients presented with three models of prophylaxy, total toxic doses were 185 g, 557 g and 1,300 g in the case of low, mild or high and massive continuous prophylaxy. All eighteen patients presented with macular angiofluorographic bull's eye; 11 were male, 7 female, mean age was 41.72 years.

CONCLUSION

Chloroquine retinopathy is a rare complication observed at our hospital. Because of the poor prognosis of the disease and our geographical situation in an endemic area, the threshold dose might be 185 g. Patients should have undergone systematic screening before these cumulative doses. The incidence of this major complication which could increase would question chloroquine prophylaxy with actual doses and methods.