Abstract
The disease caused by the novel corona virus (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The virus spreads fast, is highly contagious, and transmits through respiratory droplets and direct contact. The symptoms are dyspnea, myalgia, fever and, in later stages, acute respiratory distress syndrome. The number of cases is increasing, creating an urgent need to find a vaccine and treatment for prevention and control. Various drugs are redirected as a possible application in COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an antimalarial drug, a promising agent, is used for prophylaxis as well as for treatment. However, for patients with a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, the treatment may cause adverse events. It is known that antimalarial treatment causes hemolytic anemia in G6PD deficient patients. In this review, we reviewed the safety of HCQ prescribed for patients who are G6PD deficient and COVID-19positive. According to literature, HCQ has a good safety profile with less side effects and the risk of hemolytic anemia in G6PD deficient patients is also lower. In addition, HCQ is cheaper and easily available, in contrast to other drugs used against COVID-19. As one of the few current treatments showing an effect against COVID-19 by reducing the viral replication and decreasing its infectivity, HCQ can be considered as a safe treatment modality. However, prior testing for G6PD deficiency must be done in COVID-19 positive patients.