Aims: Studies have indicated that chloroquine (CQ) shows antagonism against COVID-19 in vitro. However, evidence regarding its effects in patients is limited. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.
Main methods: From February 4 to February 28, 2020, 62 patients suffering from COVID-19 were diagnosed and admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. All participants were randomized in a parallel-group trial, 31 patients were assigned to receive an additional 5-day HCQ (400 mg/d) treatment, Time to clinical recovery (TTCR), clinical characteristics, and radiological results were assessed at baseline and 5 days after treatment to evaluate the effect of HCQ.
Key findings: For the 62 COVID-19 patients, 46.8% (29 of 62) were male and 53.2% (33 of 62) were female, the mean age was 44.7 (15.3) years. No difference in the age and sex distribution between the control group and the HCQ group. But for TTCR, the body temperature recovery time and the cough remission time were significantly shortened in the HCQ treatment group. Besides, a larger proportion of patients with improved pneumonia in the HCQ treatment group (80.6%, 25 of 32) compared with the control group (54.8%, 17 of 32). Notably, all 4 patients progressed to severe illness that occurred in the control group. However, there were 2 patients with mild adverse reactions in the HCQ treatment group. Significance: Among patients with COVID-19, the use of HCQ could significantly shorten TTCR and promote the absorption of pneumonia.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Clinical Trial
ChiCTR2000029559
Funding Statement
This study was supported by the Epidemiological Study of COVID-19 Pneumonia to Science and Technology Department of Hubei Province (2020FCA005).
Author Declarations
All relevant ethical guidelines have been followed; any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained and details of the IRB/oversight body are included in the manuscript.
Yes
All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived.
Yes
I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).
Yes
I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable.
Yes
Data Availability
The dataset supporting the conclusions of this article is included within the article.
Article Information
doi https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.22.20040758
History March 31, 2020.
Article Versions
- Version 1 (March 30, 2020 - 08:21).
- You are viewing Version 2, the most recent version of this article.
- Zhaowei Chen1 (94611960@qq.com),
- Jijia Hu2 (hujijia@whu.edu.cn),
- Zongwei Zhang1 (zhangzongwei@whu.edu.cn),
- Shan Jiang1 (shanjiang@whu.edu.cn),
- Shoumeng Han3 (1493676387@qq.com),
- Dandan Yan1 (dandany1126@163.com),
- Ruhong Zhuang1 (476622403@qq.com),
- Ben Hu4 (huben@wh.iov.cn) and
- Zhan Zhang15 (doctorzhang2003@163.com)
- 1 Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University;
- 2 Renmin hospital of Wuhan University;
- 3 Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University,;
- 4 Wuhan Institute of Virology
- โต* Corresponding author; email: doctorzhang2003@163.com
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