To treat Pakistani patients with non-life threatening symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection with an intent to reduce burden on institutional healthcare services by determining efficacy of different chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine dosing regimens in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Drug: Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Regular dose
Hydroxychloroquine administered based off of in-vitro pharmacokinetics study of optimal dosage for efficacy against SARS-CoV-2
Drug: Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Loading Dose
Hydroxychloroquine administered as a loading dose only
Drug: Chloroquine
Chloroquine administered based off of in-vitro pharmacokinetics study of optimal dosage for efficacy against SARS-CoV-2
Drug: Placebo
Standard of Care plus placebo
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Symptomatic patients: defined as fever (temperature greater than 100 degree F), cough,
or shortness of breath (respiratory rate >22 per minute).
2. Nasopharyngeal RT-PCR positive SARS-CoV-2
3. Age 20-50 years
4. BMI 18-28 kg/m2
5. Informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
1. O2 saturation by pulse-oximeter below 93%
2. Co-morbidities: any pre-existing cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes
3. Arrhythmias and/or history of arrythmia
4. Psoriasis and/or history of psoriasis
5. Neuropathy or myopathy and/or history of these
6. Hypoglycemia and/or history of hypoglycemia
7. Pre-existing hepatic disease
8. Pre-existing renal disease
9. Use of antacids within 1 week
10. Use of antiobiotics within 1 week
11. Pregnancy
12. RT-PCR performed >7 days prior to enrollment
Expo Covid Isolation Center / Mayo Hospital Field Hospital
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Mayo Hospital / King Edward Medical University
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Services Hospital
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Ammar Sarwar, MD, Principal Investigator
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center