Reply to Gautret Et Al: Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate and Azithromycin for COVID-19: What is the Evidence and What Are the Risks?

Overview

Journal Int J Antimicrob Agents

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Pharmacology

Date 2020 Jul 18

PMID 32674929

Citations 19

Authors

Julian D Machiels

Chantal P Bleeker-Rovers

Rob Ter Heine

Janette Rahamat-Langendoen

Quirijn de Mast

Jaap Ten Oever

Teun Bousema

Reinout van Crevel

Heiman Fl Wertheim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The severity of COVID-19 has resulted in a global rush to find the right antiviral treatment to conquer the pandemic and to treat patients. This requires reliable studies to support treatment. In a recently published study by Gautret et al. the authors concluded that hydroxychloroquine monotherapy and hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin reduced viral load. However, this trial has several major methodological issues, including the design, outcome measure and the statistical analyses. In this paper we discuss the background, clinical evidence, pharmacology and methodological issues related to this clinical trial. We understand the rush to release results, however in case conclusions are far reaching the evidence needs to be robust.

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