Effects of Hydroxychloroquine on Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy

The Efficacy and Mechanism of Hydroxychloroquine in Patients with Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy After Myocarditis

Phase2; Phase3 Interventional Tongji Hospital · NCT05961202

This study is testing if adding hydroxychloroquine to standard treatment can help people with inflammatory cardiomyopathy feel better and improve their heart function.

Quick facts

PhasePhase2; Phase3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment200 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorTongji Hospital Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsprednisone
Locations1 site (Wuhan, Hubei)
Trial IDNCT05961202 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the long-term therapeutic effects and safety of hydroxychloroquine compared to glucocorticoid therapy alone in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy, a condition often leading to heart failure. Patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction will be randomly assigned to receive either hydroxychloroquine combined with glucocorticoids or glucocorticoids alone. The study aims to measure clinical benefits through improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction and reductions in specific cardiac biomarkers over a follow-up period of up to 36 months.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 80 with chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathy and left ventricular dysfunction unresponsive to standard treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with acute myocardial infarction, recent cardiac surgery, or those preparing for heart transplantation may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new therapeutic option for patients suffering from inflammatory cardiomyopathy, potentially improving heart function and overall prognosis.

How similar studies have performed: While hydroxychloroquine has shown promise in treating other inflammatory conditions, this specific application in inflammatory cardiomyopathy is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:

1. Male or female patient aged from 18 to 80 years;
2. Left ventricular dysfunction \[left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \<50%\] diagnosed by echocardiography (Simpson's biplane) within 30 days before randomization;
3. Chronic heart failure (lasting \>6 months) unresponsive to conventional supportive therapy;
4. High-sensitivity cardiac Troponin I (hs-cTnI) \>26.2 pg/mL and N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) \>169pg/mL;
5. Suffered from confirmed fulminant myocarditis in the past;
6. Diagnosed with chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathy confirmed by myocardial biopsy1;
7. Absence of cardiotropic viruses at polymerase chain reaction analysis;
8. Volunteer for the study and written informed consent;

Exclusion criteria:

1. Age \<18 or \>80 years;
2. Acute myocardial infarction occurred within the past month;
3. Subjects who have undergone cardiac surgery or cerebrovascular accidents within 6 months;
4. Preparing for heart transplantation;
5. With malignant arrhythmias such as long QT syndrome;
6. Pregnancy or lactation;
7. Have participated in any drug clinical trial within the three months;
8. Presence of contraindications to prednisolone and/or hydroxychloroquine (including hypersensitivity to prednisone or hydroxychloroquine, mainly untreated systemic infection, uncontrolled diabetes, poorly controlled endocrine diseases, osteoporosis, gastric or duodenal ulcer, uncontrolled hypertension, leukocytopenia (leukocyte counts \< 4×109/L), neutropenia (neutrophils \< 1.5×109/L), thrombocytopenia (platelet levels \< 130×109/L), anemia (hemoglobin levels \< 11 g/dL).
9. Confirmed or possible systemic inflammatory diseases;
10. On the brink of death or life expectancy of less than 1 year;
11. Drug or alcohol abuse;
12. cannot persist in taking medication due to various reasons;
13. Inability to provide informed consent.

Where this trial is running

Wuhan, Hubei

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Inflammatory CardiomyopathyMyocarditisInflammatory cardiomyopathyHydroxychloroquineRandomized controlled trial
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.