Chloroquine for COVID-19: rationale, facts, hopes
Andrea Cortegiani, Mariachiara Ippolito, Giulia Ingoglia, Sharon Einav
Abstract
The tragedy of the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to a desperate search for effective treatments. Chloroquine (CQ), an aminoquinoline used for many years for the prophylaxis and therapy of malaria and autoimmune diseases, has been put forward as a treatment option. The fact that CQ is not patented and has been in clinical use for years is a major advantage. CQ has been shown to have antiviral effects in SARS, MERS, Ebola, and HIV infections, but without data showing clinical effectiveness [1, 2]. Does the current level of evidence suffice for prescribing CQ for COVID-19?
Topics & Concepts
MedicineCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Chloroquine2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)HydroxychloroquinePandemicMEDLINEBetacoronavirusVirologyIntensive care medicineInternal medicineMalariaPathologyOutbreakInfectious disease (medical specialty)Political scienceLawDiseaseVitamin C and Antioxidants ResearchCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesLong-Term Effects of COVID-19