Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Africa : caution for inappropriate off-label use in healthcare settings
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 pandemic has spread to Africa, where nearly all
countries have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Although there are ongoing
clinical trials of repurposed and investigational antiviral and immune-based therapies, there are as yet no scientifically
proven, clinically effective pharmacological treatments for COVID-19. Among the repurposed drugs, the
commonly used antimalarials chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) havebecome the focus of global scientific,
media, and political attention despite a lack of randomized clinical trials supporting their efficacy. Chloroquine has been
used worldwide for about 75 years and is listed by theWHOas an essential medicine to treat malaria. Hydroxychloroquine
is mainly used as a therapy for autoimmune diseases. However, the efficacy and safety of CQ/HCQ for the treatment of
COVID-19 remains to be defined. Indiscriminate promotion and widespread use of CQ/HCQ have led to extensive
shortages, self-treatment, and fatal overdoses. Shortages and increased market prices leave all countries vulnerable to
substandard and falsified medical products, and safety issues are especially concerning for Africa because of its
healthcare system limitations. Much needed in Africa is a cross-continental collaborative network for coordinated production,
distribution, and post-marketing surveillance aligned to low-cost distribution of any approved COVID-19 drug;
this would ideally be piggybacked on existing global aid efforts. Meanwhile, African countries should strongly consider
implementing prescription monitoring schemes to ensure that any off-label CQ/HCQ use is appropriate and beneficial
during this pandemic.
Description
CITATION: Abena, P. M. et al. 2020. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Africa : caution for inappropriate off-label use in healthcare settings. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 00(0), 2020, pp. 1–5, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0290.
doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0290
The original publication is available at https://www.ajtmh.org
The original publication is available at https://www.ajtmh.org
Keywords
COVID-19 (Disease), Chloroquine, Coronavirus infections, Coronavirus disease 19 -- Treatment, Coronavirus disease 19 -- Prevention, Hydroxychloroquine
Citation
Abena, P. M. et al. 2020. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Africa : caution for inappropriate off-label use in healthcare settings. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 00(0), 2020, pp. 1–5, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0290.