Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use in COVID-19 era and cardiovascular concerns: Current perspective
In the present era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, lack of an established and effective targeted therapy sans a vaccine is proving to be a major hurdle in containing the contagion. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a widely used antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drug, has been proposed for...
Main Authors: | , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2021-01-01
|
Series: | Journal of the Practice of Cardiovascular Sciences |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.j-pcs.org/article.asp?issn=2395-5414;year=2021;volume=7;issue=1;spage=78;epage=82;aulast=Kapoor |
id |
doaj-7d5be71258e7479a98f2a9cd6fb255ea |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-7d5be71258e7479a98f2a9cd6fb255ea2021-05-05T11:30:08ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of the Practice of Cardiovascular Sciences2395-54142454-28302021-01-0171788210.4103/jpcs.jpcs_85_20Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use in COVID-19 era and cardiovascular concerns: Current perspectiveAditya KapoorAnkit Kumar SahuIn the present era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, lack of an established and effective targeted therapy sans a vaccine is proving to be a major hurdle in containing the contagion. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a widely used antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drug, has been proposed for coronavirus infection management by various drug regulatory authorities for emergency use including Indian Council of Medical Research. However, clinical safety concerns primarily regarding cardiovascular issues have been raised against HCQ usage, especially in relatively higher dosage in conjunction with azithromycin (AZM) coprescription. HCQ and to some extent, AZM have proven to be effective against COVID-19. Barring a small at-risk population for cardiovascular adverse effects, their clinical use in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 was deemed to be beneficial and even recommended by various national and international representative societies including the World Health Organization, especially in high-risk individuals such as health-care workers and exposed contacts of coronavirus positive patients under due medical supervision. Multiple studies evaluating the anticoronaviral efficacy for prevention as well as for treatment prospect were conducted, but none could convincingly demonstrate a beneficial effect of HCQ with or without AZM on alleviating symptoms, shortening hospitalization, improving survival, or preventing disease transmission.http://www.j-pcs.org/article.asp?issn=2395-5414;year=2021;volume=7;issue=1;spage=78;epage=82;aulast=Kapoorazithromycincardiotoxicitycoronavirushydroxychloroquineqt prolongation |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Aditya Kapoor Ankit Kumar Sahu |
spellingShingle |
Aditya Kapoor Ankit Kumar Sahu Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use in COVID-19 era and cardiovascular concerns: Current perspective Journal of the Practice of Cardiovascular Sciences azithromycin cardiotoxicity coronavirus hydroxychloroquine qt prolongation |
author_facet |
Aditya Kapoor Ankit Kumar Sahu |
author_sort |
Aditya Kapoor |
title |
Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use in COVID-19 era and cardiovascular concerns: Current perspective |
title_short |
Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use in COVID-19 era and cardiovascular concerns: Current perspective |
title_full |
Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use in COVID-19 era and cardiovascular concerns: Current perspective |
title_fullStr |
Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use in COVID-19 era and cardiovascular concerns: Current perspective |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use in COVID-19 era and cardiovascular concerns: Current perspective |
title_sort |
hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use in covid-19 era and cardiovascular concerns: current perspective |
publisher |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
series |
Journal of the Practice of Cardiovascular Sciences |
issn |
2395-5414 2454-2830 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
In the present era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, lack of an established and effective targeted therapy sans a vaccine is proving to be a major hurdle in containing the contagion. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a widely used antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drug, has been proposed for coronavirus infection management by various drug regulatory authorities for emergency use including Indian Council of Medical Research. However, clinical safety concerns primarily regarding cardiovascular issues have been raised against HCQ usage, especially in relatively higher dosage in conjunction with azithromycin (AZM) coprescription. HCQ and to some extent, AZM have proven to be effective against COVID-19. Barring a small at-risk population for cardiovascular adverse effects, their clinical use in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 was deemed to be beneficial and even recommended by various national and international representative societies including the World Health Organization, especially in high-risk individuals such as health-care workers and exposed contacts of coronavirus positive patients under due medical supervision. Multiple studies evaluating the anticoronaviral efficacy for prevention as well as for treatment prospect were conducted, but none could convincingly demonstrate a beneficial effect of HCQ with or without AZM on alleviating symptoms, shortening hospitalization, improving survival, or preventing disease transmission. |
topic |
azithromycin cardiotoxicity coronavirus hydroxychloroquine qt prolongation |
url |
http://www.j-pcs.org/article.asp?issn=2395-5414;year=2021;volume=7;issue=1;spage=78;epage=82;aulast=Kapoor |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT adityakapoor hydroxychloroquineandazithromycinuseincovid19eraandcardiovascularconcernscurrentperspective AT ankitkumarsahu hydroxychloroquineandazithromycinuseincovid19eraandcardiovascularconcernscurrentperspective |
_version_ |
1721464660836745216 |