Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the management of COVID-19: Much kerfuffle but little evidence.

ABSTRACT: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are drugs that have shown in vitro activity on the replication of certain coronaviruses. In the context of the SARS-Cov-2 epidemic, the virus responsible for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), these two drugs have been proposed as possible treatments. The results of the first clinical studies evaluating the effect of hydroxychloroquine do not support any efficacy of this drug in patients with COVID-19, due to major methodological weaknesses. Yet, these preliminary studies have aroused considerable media interest, raising fears of massive and uncontrolled use. In the absence of evidence of clinical benefits, the main risk is of exposing patients unnecessarily to the well-known adverse effects of hydroxychloroquine, with a possibly increased risk in

SUBMITTER: Roustit M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7244425 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul - Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature