Chloroquine-induced Prolonged QT Interval in COVID-19 Patients in Indonesia: Case Series
Putu Dyah Widyaningsih1,2
, Putu Gita Pranata Putra1,2, DG Wedha Asmara1,2, Erna Bagiari1,2, Agus Santosa3, Harapan Harapan4,5,6,*, Sri Masyeni1,2,1Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Universitas Warmadewa, Denpasar, Bali 80235, Indonesia
2Department of Internal Medicine, Sanjiwani Hospital, Denpasar, Bali 80235, Indonesia
3Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Universitas Warmadewa, Denpasar, Bali 80235, Indonesia
4Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Aceh 23111, Indonesia
5Medical Research Unit, School of Medicine, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Aceh 23111, Indonesia
6Tropical Disease Centre, School of Medicine, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Aceh 23111, Indonesia
Corresponding Authors E-mail:harapan@unsyiah.ac.id
Abstract:
The treatment of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19)remains in debate, and the use of chloroquine has not been validated by accurate clinical trials.The aim of this study was to provide the possible cardiotoxicity effect of chloroquine in patients with COVID-19. This study was a case-series of prolonged QT interval of COVID-19 patients treated with chloroquine in a hospital in Bali, Indonesia. There were two cases of COVID-19 with exhibited a prolonged QT interval after being administrated of chloroquine. The prolonged QT interval returned to normal after chloroquine was stopped.These cases alert us the cardiotoxicity effect of chloroquine and the need for serial electro-cardiography monitoring before and during therapy. In conclusion, although antiviral and anti-inflammation properties of chloroquine on COVID-19 are promising, its cardiotoxicity effects should be monitored closely for less harm to the patients.
Keywords: Chloroquine; Cardiotoxicity; COVID-19; long QT syndrome; LQTS Back to TOC