Role of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in prophylaxis against COVID19 review study

Abstract

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has pushed that global healthcare system in crises and led to huge losses in terms of life and property. Different drugs for prophylaxis against COVID-19 including Chloroquine (CQ) or Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have been tried. This study was performed to systematically review the role of CQ and HCQ in the prophylaxis of COVID-19. Various databases like PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies that evaluated the prophylactic role of CQ or HCQ on SARS-CoV-2 (pre-clinical studies) or COVID-19 (clinical studies) until 6th May 2020. The available literature was critically appraised. A total of 36 articles were screened and 4 in vitro pre-clinical studies and 2 clinical opines, 4 clinical studies and promising clinical trials registered at clinicaltrials.gov were included in analysis. The pre-clinical studies showed the prophylactic effects of CQ and HCQ against SARS-CoV-2. On the other hand, the clinical opinions advocated the prophylactic use of CQ and HCQ against COVID-19. However, no original clinical studies on the prophylactic role of CQ or HCQ on COVID-19 were available. Although Preclinical trials and in vitro studies support the use of CQ and HCQ in prophylaxis against COVID19, there is a dearth of concrete clinical data to support the same. However, in a resource poor country the benefits of chemoprophylaxis will augment the safety of Frontline workers against COVID19. Long term follow up studies and high quality randomised controlled studies are required to establish the fact more prudently.