Table 1.

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.