Suspected Hydroxychloroquine-Induced Sinus Bradycardia and QTc Prolongation in a Patient with COVID-19.

Abstract

An 84-year-old woman with hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, and chronic kidney disease presented with fever and was diagnosed with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). During the hospitalization, she experienced unexpected sinus bradycardia with prolonged QTc, which was thought to be closely related to the short-term use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an old drug used to treat malaria and autoimmune diseases, but now used against COVID-19. The cardiac side effects of HCQ were rare, seen with short-term and low-dose use. With the COVID-19 pandemic, this case alerts clinicians to be aware of the arrhythmogenic effects of HCQ when it is used as an antiviral drug, especially in patients with preexisting cardiovascular diseases.

• Authors: Yu Kang, Hui Wang, Hong Chen, Bo Wang, Yingying Yang, Xuan Zhao, Qihui Ran, Jiafu Wei
• Journal: International heart journal (Int Heart J) Vol. 61 Issue 5 Pg. 1056-1058 (Sep 29 2020) ISSN: 1349-3299 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 32921678 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hydroxychloroquine

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Betacoronavirus
• Bradycardia (chemically induced)
• COVID-19
• Coronavirus Infections (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Hydroxychloroquine (adverse effects)
• Long QT Syndrome (chemically induced)
• Pandemics
• Pneumonia, Viral (drug therapy)
• SARS-CoV-2
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment