Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for the Treatment of COVID-19: Review and Appraisal of Current Evidence. Article

Powell-Young, Yolanda M, Alzaghari, Omar, Reyes-Miranda, Clara et al. (2020). Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for the Treatment of COVID-19: Review and Appraisal of Current Evidence. . 31(2), 1-14.

cited authors

  • Powell-Young, Yolanda M; Alzaghari, Omar; Reyes-Miranda, Clara; Coleman, Bernice; Strickland, Ora L; Gordon, Yhovana; Aroke, Edwin; Lewis Iii, Henry; Giger, Joyce Newman

abstract

  • Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and associated coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) began ravaging most of the globe in November 2019. In the United States more than 25 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. To date, COVID-19 has killed close to 400,000 U.S. citizens. In the face of limited pharmacotherapies, the current burden of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 signals overwhelming sickness and trillions in healthcare costs ahead. The need to expeditiously identify safe and efficacious prophylaxis and treatment options is critical. Drug repositioning may be a promising strategy toward mitigating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. This rapid review appraises available evidence on the viability of vintage antimalarial drugs chloroquine (CHQ) and its analog hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) repositioned for SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis and COVID-19 treatment. Findings suggest neither the use of CHQ nor HCQ singularly, or concomitantly, with azithromycin and/or zinc provide definitive benefits for use against SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 illness. Moreover, administration of these medications was linked to significant and sometimes fatal complications.

publication date

  • December 1, 2020

keywords

  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Chloroquine
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine

Medium

  • Print

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 14

volume

  • 31

issue

  • 2