Halogenated quinolines

General information

The halogenated quinolines include clioquinol (iodochlorohydroxyquinoline), diiodohydroxyquinoline, broxyquinoline, and chlorquinaldol (all rINNs). Once regarded as a prophylactic and remedy for simple diarrhea, some of them remain in limited use for special purposes, notably for the treatment of amebiasis when no alternative is available.

A major epidemic of subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) in Japan during 1956–70 was identified as being due to clioquinol, which led to the withdrawal of halogenated quinolines in Japan itself and subsequently elsewhere. There is every reason to believe that the adverse reactions seen with clioquinol can occur with the other hydroxyquinolines, but some of them are still sold freely in various parts of the world [ ].

Organs and systems