Chloroquine for COVID-19: rationale, facts, hopes
- Authors: Cortegiani, Andrea; Ippolito, Mariachiara; Ingoglia, Giulia; Einav, Sharon
- Publication year: 2020
- Type: Articolo in rivista
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/415537
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?