Primum non nocere – Are chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine safe prophylactic/treatment options for Sars-CoV-2 (covid-19)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 16780409 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Claudia Biguetti (0000-0003-4503-3108, The University of Texas at Arlington), Mauro Toledo Marrelli (0000-0002-0312-8777, Universidade de São Paulo), Marco Brotto (0000-0002-3199-9721, The University of Texas at Arlington) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 54 |
| Pages | 68 |
| Publication date | 2020-07-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Revista de Saúde Pública (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0034-8910 • E-ISSN: 0034-8910 |
| Publisher | Universidade de São Paulo. Agência de Bibliotecas e Coleções Digitais (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054002631 |
| PMID | 32638884 |
| OpenAlex | W3037697353 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 2 |
Chloroquine (CQ) and its analog hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were recently included in several clinical trials as potential prophylactic and therapeutic options for SARS-CoV-2 infection/covid-19. However, drug effectiveness in preventing, treating, or slowing the progression of the disease is still unknown. Despite some initial promising in vitro results, rigorous pre-clinical animal studies and randomized clinical trials have not been performed yet. On the other hand, while the potential effectiveness of CQ/HCQ is, at best, hypothetical, their side effects are factual and most worrisome, particularly when considering vulnerable groups of patients being treated with these drugs. In this comment, we briefly explain the possible mechanisms of action of CQ/HCQ for treating other diseases, possible actions against covid-19, and their potent side effects, in order to reinforce the necessity of evaluating the benefit-risk balance when widely prescribing these drugs for SARS-CoV-2 infection/covid-19. We conclude by strongly recommending against their indiscriminate use. DESCRIPTORS: Coronavirus Infections. Chloroquine, toxicity. Hydroxychloroquine, toxicity. Contraindications, Drug
Chloroquine · Clinical trial · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Disease · Drug · Hydroxychloroquine · Infectious disease (medical specialty) · Intensive care medicine · Malaria · Primum non nocere · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) · COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies · Drug-Induced Ocular Toxicity · Immunology · Internal Medicine · Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 · Medicine · Pharmacology
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |