Arthritis At Home 236 – INTACT study: Risk of eye damage in patients with SLE and RA taking hydroxychloroquine

In this episode of Arthritis At Home, Cheryl Koehn, Founder and President at Arthritis Consumer Experts, speaks to Dr. J. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta, UBC Division Head of Rheumatology, BC Lupus Society Research Scholar, and Senior Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada. They discuss the INTACT study, an ongoing study working to determine the risk of eye damage in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are taking hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Hydroxychloroquine is commonly used to treat both diseases and is typically safe, affordable and easy to take. After long-term use, a serious side-effect may occur resulting in eye damage that could cause vision loss. We don’t know much about how often this happens or what might make it more likely.

If you live in British Columbia and have SLE or RA, you can help researchers determine the real risk of eye damage by participating in this study. The findings will be shared with doctors and patients so that patients receive the best and safest care. People in this study will have state-of-the-art eye testing done at a retinal specialist’s office which is already the standard of care for people taking HCQ. If you are interested in participating in this study, please ask your rheumatologist to refer you for an annual retina screening test as part of the INTACT study during your upcoming visit. To learn more about the study, please email the team at intact.study@arthritisresearch.ca.

About Dr. J. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta

Born in Mexico, Dr. J. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta graduated as a Medical Doctor from the University of Guadalajara. Dr. Aviña-Zubieta did a Clinical Research Fellowship at the University of Alberta and subsequently completed a Master’s Degree in Experimental Medicine at the same university. In 2010, Dr. Aviña-Zubieta received his PhD in Experimental Medicine/Epidemiology from the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine and Head of Division of Rheumatology in the Department of Medicine at UBC and a Senior Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada. His research interests are in rheumatology and the economic burden and cardiovascular complications associated with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

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