May 19, 2020

“Off-Label” Use of Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin, Lopinavir-Ritonavir and Chloroquine in COVID-19: A Survey of Cardiac Adverse Drug Reactions by the French Network of Pharmacovigilance Centers

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

• Gerard et al. investigated the cardiac safety of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, lopinavir-ritonavir and chloroquine for “off-label” use among COVID-19 patients. Over a one month period, 120 cardiac adverse drug reactions among COVID-19 patients were reported to the Nice Regional Center of Pharmacovigilance in France. 86% of these adverse events were associated with hydroxychloroquine, alone or in combination with azithromycin. The authors estimated the incidence of cardiac adverse drug reactions to be 0.77% to 1.54% of COVID-19 patients. These findings are suggestive of an elevated risk of cardiac adverse events associated with “off-label” treatments among COVID-19 patients.

Gerard et al. (May7, 2020). “Off-Label” Use of Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin, Lopinavir-Ritonavir and Chloroquine in COVID-19: A Survey of Cardiac Adverse Drug Reactions by the French Network of Pharmacovigilance Centers. Therapie. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.therap.2020.05.002