Case Report: Hepatotoxicity Associated with the Use of Hydroxychloroquine in a Patient with COVID-19
Melissa Barreto Falcão, Luciano Pamplona de Góes Cavalcanti, Nivaldo Menezes Filgueiras Filho, Carlos Alexandre Antunes de Brito
Abstract
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been used for the treatment of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases. However, evidence of efficacy remains limited, and adverse events can be associated with its use. Here, we report a case of a patient with severe COVID-19 who, after being administered HCQ, exhibited a 10-fold increase in serum levels of transaminases, followed by a rapid decrease after HCQ was withdrawn. Considering the significantly increased use of HCQ during the COVID-19 pandemic, this case alerts us to the potential for HCQ to be associated with hepatotoxicity and the need to monitor liver function during HCQ therapy.