Fatal arrhythmias: Another reason why doctors remain cautious about chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19

Early during the current COVID-19 pandemic, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) received a significant amount of attention as a potential antiviral treatment, such that it became one of the most commonly prescribed medications for COVID-19 patients. However, not only the effectiveness of HCQ has remained questionable, and mainly based on pre-clinical, and a few small clinical studies, but also HCQ is known to be potentially arrhythmogenic, especially as a result of QT prolongation.

Source: Heart Rhythm - May 27, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Ilija Uzelac, Shahriar Iravanian, Hiroshi Ashikaga, Neal K. Bhatia, Conner Herndon, Abouzar Kaboudian, James C. Gumbart, Elizabeth M. Cherry, Flavio H. Fenton Source Type: research