Hydroxychloroquine is protective to the heart, not Harmful: A systematic review

Abstract

Background Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been shown to be at least somewhat effective in treating COVID 19 patients. Recently FDA and CDC warnings of fatal cardiac toxicity from Torsade de Pointes (TDP) arrhythmia from HCQ use have been made, notwithstanding the long safe HCQ use for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. This has resulted in restricted access of HCQ for COVID 19 treatment. We hypothesized that HCQ and azithromycin have not been reported to cause significant acute cardiac arrhythmic mortality. Methods We performed a literature search for the effects of HCQ and azithromycin on the heart. Results No Torsade de Pointes or related deaths were found to have been reported as a result of HCQ and azithromycin use in the peer reviewed literature. To the contrary HCQ/azithromycin were uniformly found to substantially reduce cardiac mortality and also to decrease thrombosis, arrhythmia and cholesterol in treated patients in recent peer reviewed studies and meeting presentations. Conclusions HCQ and azithromycin do not cause TDP cardiac mortality. HCQ decreases cardiac events. HCQ should not be restricted in use for COVID 19 patients because of fear of cardiac mortality.