Paper II
2025 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)

Question

Chloroquine

Q43 marksShort Notes

Answer

Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial, a blood schizonticide.

MOA: chloroquineaccumulates in the parasite’s acidic food vacuole (ion-trapped as a weak base) → inhibits haem polymerase → blocks conversion of toxic free haem into inert haemozoin → toxic free haem accumulates and kills the parasite.

Uses: treatment of P. vivax malaria, chemoprophylaxis, rheumatoid arthritis/SLE (immunomodulatory property).

Adverse effects: retinopathy (irreversible, dose/duration-related), pruritus (notably common in patients of West African descent), QT prolongation at high doses. Widespread resistance has substantially limited use against P. falciparum.

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