Few studies have reported the efficacy of HCQ in reducing the viral load and improving the severity of symptoms in hospitalized COVID-19 cases with serious respiratory infection. However, the prophylactic benefits of HCQ has not been clearly defined yet.
This study is designed to evaluate the prophylactic efficacy of HCQ in COVID-19 cases with
mild to moderate symptoms and in the hospital staff engaged in attending infected patients.
Drug: Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate
Patients will receive hydroxychloroquine sulfate 400 mg twice daily on the day of enrollment, then 200 mg twice daily for the next 4 days for a 5 day total course.
Staff will receive HCQ sulfate 400mg/week for 4 weeks
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male or female over 18 years of age at the time of enrollment
- COVID-19 test positive patients with mild-moderate symptoms including fever >37.50 F
- Consecutive consenting staff at ICU, ER and COVID-19 unit that have never been
diagnosed with COVID-19
Exclusion Criteria:
- Exclusion criteria:
- Hepatic cirrhosis or active hepatitis B or C
- Severe renal disease
- Hospitalized for severe symptoms of COVID-19 (ARDS), on mechanical ventilation or ECMO
- Contraindication to HCQ
- Using HCQ for some other condition (i.e. SLE, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Pregnant or breast feeding
- Known history of long QT syndrome (QTc >500 ms on electrocardiogram)
- Seizure disorder
- Body weight <50kg
- Psoriasis
- Unwilling to provide informed consent
Andrea Natale, MD, Principal Investigator
St. David's Medical Center