Purpose of Review The rapid spread of virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has turned out to be a global emergency. Symptoms of this viral infection, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), include mild infections of the upper respiratory tract, viral pneumonia, respiratory failure, multiple organ failure and death. Till date, no drugs have been discovered to treat COVID-19 patients, and therefore, a considerable amount of interest has been shown in repurposing the existing drugs. Recent Findings Out of these drugs, chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have demonstrated positive results indicating a potential antiviral role against SARS-CoV-2. Its mechanism of action (MOA) includes the interference in the endocytic pathway, blockade of sialic acid receptors, restriction of pH mediated spike (S) protein cleavage at the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding site and prevention of cytokine storm. Unfortunately, its adverse effects like gastrointestinal complications, retinopathy and QT interval prolongation are evident in treated COVID-19 patients. Yet, multiple clinical trials have been employed in several countries to evaluate its ability in turning into a needed drug in this pandemic. Summary This review attempts to summarize the MOA of CQ/HCQ and its side effects. The existing literature hints that till date, the role of CQ/HCQ in COVID-19 may be sceptical, and further studies are warranted for obtaining a therapeutic option that could be effectively used across the world to rise out from this pandemic.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, pandemic, Hydroxychloroquine, QT prolongation, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, review, viral infection, ACE2, Cytokine storm, clinical trial, Chloroquine, Respiratory failure, drugs, drug, virus, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, binding site, Spread, Viral pneumonia, death, HCQ, receptors, Side effects, multiple organ failure, mechanism of action, QT interval, upper respiratory tract, COVID-19 patients, mild infection, Endocytic pathway, therapeutic option, sialic acid, adverse effect, acute respiratory syndrome, positive result, treat, blockade, finding, gastrointestinal complications, protein cleavage, antiviral role, recent, country, shown, evaluate, include, treated, demonstrated, Till, 【제목키워드】 Action, Potential, Against,