Strategies and evidence level for maximising hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine treatment in CLE
| Strategies | Evidence level* |
| Pre antimalarial treatment considerations | |
| Smoking cessation | 2B |
| Photoprotection: SPF 70 or greater, sun-protective clothing, UV avoidance | 1B |
| Possible Polypodium leucotomos supplementation | 5 |
| Medication compliance | |
| Measure HCQ drug levels after ≥2 months | 1B |
| Full daily doses instead of split doses | 5 |
| GI upset: switch to nightly HCQ dosing, titrate HCQ gradually | 5 |
*Evidence levels adapted from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine.
CLE, cutaneous lupus erythematosus; GI, gastrointestinal; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; SPF, sun protection factor; UV, ultraviolet.