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Tabassum T, Rahman A, Araf Y, Ullah MA, Hosen MJ. Management of asthma patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: pathophysiological considerations to address the challenges. BENI-SUEF UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2022; 11:20. [PMID: 35155689 PMCID: PMC8817645 DOI: 10.1186/s43088-022-00204-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a serious global health issue, especially for people with pre-existing health conditions. Patients dealing with asthma are presumed to be at higher risk as COVID-19 may cause severe respiratory distress. Main body From the initial stage of the pandemic, several clinical trials and studies have assessed the association between COVID-19 and asthma; however, no significant association was reported. This may be due to the fact that most of the asthma cases remained undiagnosed and overlapping respiratory features make it difficult to differentiate between these two diseases. The pathomechanism of the conditions and the immune response generated in response to the conditions suggest that the presence of any of the conditions is very likely to influence the presence or severity of the other condition. So far, no specific treatments are known for COVID-19; however, the use of plasma therapy and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs during the initial phase of the pandemic and widespread vaccination during the latter phase has given positive outcomes in reducing COVID-19 cases as well as disease severity. Short conclusion Taking asthma as an increased risk factor for COVID-19 morbidity, this article aims to provide comprehensive insights into the risk and proper management of asthma patients during this COVID-19 pandemic. The common medications of asthma patients suppress their respiratory immune response that might facilitate cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. Similarly, there are risks of viral-induced asthma exacerbations. Besides, different social issues such as shortage of medicines, SDOH, and delayed clinical trials put asthma patients through inconvenience. The primary focus at this point should be to reduce probable asthma attacks and severity to prevent hospitalization of asthma patients. Moreover, for better management of asthma patients maintaining an asthma action plan and healthy lifestyle, ensuring a nutritious diet, and developing self-management interventions can play a crucial role.
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Zuo Z, Wu T, Pan L, Zuo C, Hu Y, Luo X, Jiang L, Xia Z, Xiao X, Liu J, Ye M, Deng M. Modalities and Mechanisms of Treatment for Coronavirus Disease 2019. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:583914. [PMID: 33643033 PMCID: PMC7908061 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.583914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is spreading rapidly throughout the world. Although COVID-19 has a relatively low case severity rate compared to SARS and Middle East Respiratory syndrome it is a major public concern because of its rapid spread and devastating impact on the global economy. Scientists and clinicians are urgently trying to identify drugs to combat the virus with hundreds of clinical trials underway. Current treatments could be divided into two major part: anti-viral agents and host system modulatory agents. On one hand, anti-viral agents focus on virus infection process. Umifenovir blocks virus recognizing host and entry. Remdesivir inhibits virus replication. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine involve preventing the whole infection process, including virus transcription and release. On the other hand, host system modulatory agents are associated with regulating the imbalanced inflammatory reaction and biased immune system. Corticosteroid is believed to be commonly used for repressing hyper-inflammation, which is one of the major pathologic mechanisms of COVID-19. Convalescent plasma and neutralizing antibodies provide essential elements for host immune system and create passive immunization. Thrombotic events are at high incidence in COVID-19 patients, thus anti-platelet and anti-coagulation are crucial, as well. Here, we summarized these current or reproposed agents to better understand the mechanisms of agents and give an update of present research situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Zuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ting Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liangyu Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chenzhe Zuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yingchuo Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuan Luo
- Hunan Yuanpin Cell Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Changsha, China
| | - Liping Jiang
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zanxian Xia
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaojuan Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mao Ye
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering for Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Meichun Deng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Morad R, Akbari M, Rezaee P, Koochaki A, Maaza M, Jamshidi Z. First principle simulation of coated hydroxychloroquine on Ag, Au and Pt nanoparticles. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2131. [PMID: 33483539 PMCID: PMC7822900 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81617-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
From the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic, the potential antiviral properties of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) against SARS-CoV-2 suggested that these drugs could be the appropriate therapeutic candidates. However, their side effects directed clinical tests towards optimizing safe utilization strategies. The noble metal nanoparticles (NP) are promising materials with antiviral and antibacterial properties that can deliver the drug to the target agent, thereby reducing the side effects. In this work, we applied both the quantum mechanical and classical atomistic molecular dynamics approaches to demonstrate the adsorption properties of HCQ/CQ on Ag, Au, AgAu, and Pt nanoparticles. We found the adsorption energies of HCQ/CQ towards nanoparticles have the following trend: PtNP > AuNP > AuAgNP > AgNP. This shows that PtNP has the highest affinity in comparison to the other types of nanoparticles. The (non)perturbative effects of this drug on the plasmonic absorption spectra of AgNP and AuNP with the time-dependent density functional theory. The effect of size and composition of NPs on the coating with HCQ and CQ were obtained to propose the appropriate candidate for drug delivery. This kind of modeling could help experimental groups to find efficient and safe therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razieh Morad
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (U2ACN2), College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, South Africa.,Material Research Division, Nanoscience African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa
| | - Mahmood Akbari
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (U2ACN2), College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, South Africa.,Material Research Division, Nanoscience African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa
| | - Parham Rezaee
- Chemistry Department, Sharif University of Technology, 11155-9516, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Koochaki
- Chemistry Department, Sharif University of Technology, 11155-9516, Tehran, Iran
| | - Malik Maaza
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (U2ACN2), College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, South Africa. .,Material Research Division, Nanoscience African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa.
| | - Zahra Jamshidi
- Chemistry Department, Sharif University of Technology, 11155-9516, Tehran, Iran.
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Rahimi R, Solimannejad M, Farghadani M. Adsorption of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as potential drugs for SARS-CoV-2 infection on BC 3 nanosheets: a DFT study. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1nj03084a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The adsorption of HCQ on BC3 nanosheets is stronger than that of CQ. The hydrogenated BC3 nanosheet is a more prominent nanocarrier for the CQ and HCQ drugs than the bare BC3 monolayer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rezvan Rahimi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran
- Institute of Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran
| | - Mohammad Solimannejad
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran
- Institute of Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran
| | - Mohadeseh Farghadani
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran
- Institute of Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran
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5
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Aouissi HA, Ababsa M, Gaagai A. Review of a controversial treatment method in the fight against COVID-19 with the example of Algeria. BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE 2021; 45:94. [PMID: 34035647 PMCID: PMC8135374 DOI: 10.1186/s42269-021-00550-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As of April 23, 2021, more than 145 million cases and almost 3.07 million related deaths were noted because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic. Considering the low rate vaccination, the alternative that divided opinions for a long time is an old medicine called hydroxychloroquine. MAIN BODY The aim of this review was to synthesize the different highlights of the most important studies published since the beginning of the epidemic crisis. After a precise study of the available bibliography dealing with this subject and the addition of an adapted example, which is the current situation of Algeria, the results showed the effectiveness of the Algerian method as well as the impact that this treatment had. CONCLUSION We concluded that in brief, given the inexistence of a better solution, we ultimately recommend that patients with severe COVID-19 to be treated for the moment with Hydroxychloroquine combined with Azithromycin in view of its effectiveness, while waiting for another solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hani Amir Aouissi
- Scientific and Technical Research Center On Arid Regions (CRSTRA), 07000 Biskra, Algeria
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Badji-Mokhtar Annaba University, 23000 Annaba, Algeria
| | - Mostefa Ababsa
- Scientific and Technical Research Center On Arid Regions (CRSTRA), 07000 Biskra, Algeria
| | - Aissam Gaagai
- Scientific and Technical Research Center On Arid Regions (CRSTRA), 07000 Biskra, Algeria
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Englund TR, Kinlaw AC, Sheikh SZ. Rise and Fall: Hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19 Global Trends: Interest, Political Influence, and Potential Implications. ACR Open Rheumatol 2020; 2:760-766. [PMID: 33263947 PMCID: PMC7738805 DOI: 10.1002/acr2.11207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to rapid research and reporting on potential preventatives and treatments for the disease, including the drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Despite a lack of robust evidence to support the use of HCQ for treatment of COVID-19, it was publicly endorsed and received widespread media coverage and public interest. The purpose of this report is to describe and contextualize the surges in public interest, demand, and adoption of HCQ for treatment of COVID-19 and outline implications for future public health policy and practice. METHODS Using national and global events and Google Trends data as a measure of public interest, we describe the timeline and trends in the emergence of, interest in, and adoption of HCQ as a treatment of COVID-19. We additionally review reports on public demand for HCQ for treatment of COVID-19 and impacts on medication access among patients with indicated uses. RESULTS Public interest and demand for HCQ surged in the United States and globally following endorsements from public officials and enaction of policies to facilitate off-label use of HCQ for treatment of COVID-19. Surges in demand for HCQ led to multiple documented shortages and barriers to accessing HCQ treatment for patients with indicated uses for HCQ. Although there have been reversals in policies to support HCQ use for treatment of COVID-19 in some regions, others have continued or expanded recommended uses. CONCLUSION Insights from the global response to HCQ and COVID-19 can be used to inform prudent decision-making in the future to prevent premature action and promote informed and equitable responses to promote public health.
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Noureddine O, Issaoui N, Al-Dossary O. DFT and molecular docking study of chloroquine derivatives as antiviral to coronavirus COVID-19. JOURNAL OF KING SAUD UNIVERSITY SCIENCE 2020; 33:101248. [PMID: 33250604 PMCID: PMC7687412 DOI: 10.1016/j.jksus.2020.101248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The recently emerged COVID-19 virus caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and instigated a widespread fear, threatening the world’s most advanced health security. In 2020, chloroquine derivatives are among the drugs tested against the coronavirus pandemic and showed an apparent efficacy. In the present work, the chloroquine and the chloroquine phosphate molecules have been proposed as potential antiviral for the treatment of COVID-19 diseases combining DFT and molecular docking calculations. Molecular geometries, electronic properties and molecular electrostatic potential were investigated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G* method. As results, we found a good agreement between the theoretical and the experimental geometrical parameters (bond lengths and bond angles). The frontier orbitals analysis has been calculated at the same level of theory to determine the charge transfer within the molecule. In order to perform a better description of the FMOs, the density of states was determined. The molecular electrostatic potential maps were calculated to provide information on the chemical reactivity of molecule and also to describe the intermolecular interactions. All these studies help us a lot in determining the reactivity of the mentioned compounds. Finally, docking calculations were carried out to determine the pharmaceutical activities of the chloroquine derivatives against coronavirus diseases. The choice of these ligands was based on their antiviral activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olfa Noureddine
- University of Monastir, Laboratory of Quantum and Statistical Physics (LR18ES18), Faculty of Sciences, Monastir 5079, Tunisia
| | - Noureddine Issaoui
- University of Monastir, Laboratory of Quantum and Statistical Physics (LR18ES18), Faculty of Sciences, Monastir 5079, Tunisia
| | - Omar Al-Dossary
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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EJEROMEDOGHENE O, ODERİNDE O, EGEJURU G, ADEWUYİ S. Chitosan-drug encapsulation as a potential candidate for COVID-19 drug delivery systems: A review. JOURNAL OF THE TURKISH CHEMICAL SOCIETY, SECTION A: CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.18596/jotcsa.773780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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9
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Bagheri Novir S, Aram MR. Quantum mechanical simulation of Chloroquine drug interaction with C60 fullerene for treatment of COVID-19. Chem Phys Lett 2020; 757:137869. [PMID: 32834063 PMCID: PMC7415227 DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2020.137869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chloroquine (CQ) has been reported as an effective drug in the control of COVID-19 infection. Since C60 fullerene has been considered as a drug delivery system, the interaction between pristine fullerene and chloroquine drug and also the interaction between B, Al, Si doped fullerene and chloroquine drug have been investigated based on the density functional theory calculations. The results of this study show that the doped fullerene, especially Al and Si doped fullerene could be the better drug delivery vehicles for chloroquine drug because of their relatively better energetic and electronic properties with chloroquine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Reza Aram
- Iranian Center for Quantum Technologies (ICQTs), Tehran, Iran
- Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Tehran, Iran
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10
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Bouaré F, Laghmari M, Etouche FN, Arjdal B, Saidi I, Hajhouji F, Ghannane H, Amro L, Tassi N, Benali SA. Unusual association of COVID-19, pulmonary tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus, having progressed favorably under treatment with chloroquine and rifampin. Pan Afr Med J 2020; 35:110. [PMID: 33282065 PMCID: PMC7687509 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.24952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with the new coronavirus has been declared an international health emergency. Its curative treatment is unknown and is the subject of several clinical trials. In addition, the concomitant association of COVID-19 with tuberculosis and the human immunodeficiency virus, hitherto never described, is potentially fatal. We report the illustrative case of a 32-year-old patient who presented this trifecta of infections and who did well under treatment with chloroquine and anti-mycobacterial drugs. This patient arrived at the ER with respiratory discomfort that had been evolving over a month with symptoms of flu and deterioration of her general condition. A chest CT scan revealed an aspect of lung miliary tuberculosis with isolation of Koch’s bacilli in the sputum. A polymerization chain reaction (PCR) was positive for COVID-19 on a nasopharyngeal swab. HIV serology was positive. The course was marked by a spectacular clinical improvement and two negative COVID-19 PCR controls at the end of treatment (at days 9 and 10). Anti-tubercular drugs (especially, rifampin) are powerful enzyme inducers that can reduce the effectiveness of chloroquine in our patient. This therapeutic success may be linked to the effect of anti-tubercular drugs against SARS ncov-2, especially rifampin, inhibiting the formation of messenger RNAs of SARS ncov-2 or to the synergistic effect of chloroquine and rifampin. Researchers should explore the effect of these drugs on SARS ncov-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fah Bouaré
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Neurosurgery of The Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
| | - Mehdi Laghmari
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Neurosurgery of The Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
| | - Felicité Nyafame Etouche
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases of the Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
| | - Badr Arjdal
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Neurosurgery of The Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
| | - Imane Saidi
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine of the Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
| | - Farouk Hajhouji
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Neurosurgery of The Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
| | - Houssine Ghannane
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Neurosurgery of The Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
| | - Lamyae Amro
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine of the Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
| | - Noura Tassi
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases of the Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
| | - Said Ait Benali
- Coronavirus Infection Unit, Department of Neurosurgery of The Arrazi Hospital, King Mohammed VI University Teaching Hospital, BP2360 Principal, Ibn Sina Avenue, Marrakesh
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Adeel AA. Perspectives on repositioning chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of Covid-19. Sudan J Paediatr 2020; 20:4-9. [PMID: 32528194 DOI: 10.24911/sjp.106-1587122398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now spreading as a pandemic ravaging the whole world. In the absence of a vaccine and an effective antiviral chemotherapy, there is currently an intense global interest in repositioning chloroquine (CQ) and its derivative hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to combat the pandemic. CQ has been used for decades for the treatment and prophylaxis against malaria in endemic countries. It is readily available and has also been manufactured in these countries. CQ is cheap, stable under field conditions and has been well tolerated as an antimalarial. This experience could be adapted to deploy CQ or HCQ for prophylaxis or treatment of COVID19 if strong evidence could be generated for these uses. We believe that well-designed drug trials should be initiated in malaria-endemic countries, taking into account the local context of the epidemic and the capacity of the health system in combating it. In this paper, we are presenting the current status of evidence for using CQ and HCQ against COVID19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Awad Adeel
- Independent Consultant in Malaria and Tropical Diseases, Lawrenceville, GA.,Formerly, Professor, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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