Evidence for increased metabolism of chloroquine during the early third trimester of human pregnancy.

Objective: To examine the possibility of a different extent of chloroquine (CQ) metabolism in human pregnancy by determining blood level profiles of the drug and its major metabolite, desethylchloroquine (CQM).

Methods: Five women in the early third trimester of pregnancy and five non-pregnant women received each a single 600 mg oral dose of CQ and blood samples were collected at pre-determined intervals following drug administration. Plasma concentrations of CQ and CQM were analysed by an established HPLC method.