When there is a pandemic there is no time to waste: should we have hydroxychloroquine in our armoury against COVID-19 infected patients?

When there is a pandemic there is no time to waste: should we have hydroxychloroquine in our armoury against COVID-19 infected patients?

Konstantinos Gourgoulianis, Dimitrios P. Bogdanos, Lazaros I. Sakkas, Epaminondas Zakynthinos, Zoi Daniil

The current use of chloroquine and/or hydroxychloroquine, a drug currently used to treat autoimmune rheumatic diseases, in treating severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) or COVID-19-infected patients with pneumonia is a matter of intense consideration. We wish to enter the ongoing debate as to whether this well-known drug must be given to Greek COVID-19-infected patients, especially those with pneumonia. Our arguments are based on the existing data and the capacity of the Greek health system to afford potent anti-viral treatments, which are under immense investigation. We propose several suggestions related to treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine that we think must be taken into consideration to fit the evolving situation of the pandemic in Greece.

2019

chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, Pandemic, COVID-19

DOI: 10.31138/mjr.31.1.94

Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology

PCO Convin S.A.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system