Clinical observation on safety of chloroquine phosphate treatment in patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the safety of chloroquine phosphate treatment in patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and provide references for clinical safety medication. Method(s) Active monitoring for adverse events (AE) was carried out in the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen from February to March 2020 during the treatment with chloroquine phosphate in patients with COVID-19. The causal relationship between AE and chloroquine phosphate was evaluated. Result(s) A total of 33 patients were entered in the study, including 16 males and 17 females, aged (43+/-13) years. The clinical types of COVID-19 in 26 patients (78.8%) were mild, in 7 patients (21.2%) were common. There were 7 patients (21.2%) with basic diseases, including 6 with hypertension and 1 with hypothyroidism. The treatment course of chloroquine phosphate was (8+/-3) days. During the treatment, a total of 28 cases of AE in 24 (72.7%) of the 33 patients which were probably or possibly related to chloroquine phosphate were detected. The clinical manifestations of AE included abnormal liver function (8/33, 24.2%), gastrointestinal reactions (8/33, 24.2%), neuropsychiatric system reactions (8/33, 24.2%), cardiovascular system reactions (5/33, 15.2%), eye and vision abnormality (2/33, 6.1%), and skin injury (1/33, 3.0%). The severity of AE was grade 1 or grade 2. After drug withdrawal or symptomatic treatments, all the patients' symptoms were improved and the laboratory tests results returned to normal. Conclusion(s) The adverse effects of chloroquine phosphate in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 are mild, but it is still necessary to strengthen the monitoring.Copyright © 2020 by the Chinese Medical Association.