Kim (whose full name and identity remain protected) has been taking hydroxychloroquine (HCA), or anti-malaria pills, for 19 years to treat her lupus.
She was shocked when her COVID-19 tests resulted positive, as she had believed claims that this drug could protect users from the virus.
Anti-Malaria Drug for Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases
Residing in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Kim started showing symptoms mid-April despite her regulated medicine. She reacted, 'How can I be sick? How? I'm on the hydroxychloroquine."
She said that her oxygen saturations were quite low, and despite being prescribed antibiotics, she had to go into urgent care days later.
Lupus occurs when the immune system attacks healthy, normal tissue hyperactively. A study by the National Library of Medicine shows that with lupus, HCQ 'reduces activity, the accrual of organ damage, risk of infections and thrombosis, and improves the cardiometabolic profile. It contributes to induce lupus nephritis remission, spares steroid use, and increases survival rates.'
HCQ has also been used to treat several other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, and Still disease, to name a few.
Kim continues to recover at home after spending a week in the hospital but is still on oxygen.
Hydroxychloroquine vs Coronavirus
While there had been claims that hydroxychloroquine could be a game-changer in preventing coronavirus contraction, there's still a lack of medical evidence to support this.
"The drugs have some in vitro activity against several viruses, including coronaviruses and influenza, but previous randomized trials in patients with influenza have been negative," as revealed in a medical article by Annals of Internal Medicine.
'Whereas the evidence supporting the use of antimalarial medications for COVID-19 is equivocal, the evidence for the use of these drugs to treat immune-mediated diseases is not. For example, HCQ is a cornerstone of therapy for SLE. Hydroxychloroquine can effectively treat disease manifestations, such as joint pain and rashes; reduce thrombotic events; and prolong survival.'
The article continues to reveal small studies in France and China without any conclusive results.
The John Hopkins Lupus Center also shares some insight regarding the usage of HCQ, and other anti-malaria drugs like chloroquine and quinacrine.
'Antimalarial medications help to control lupus in several ways by modulating the immune system without predisposing you to infection.'
This has caused some theories that hydroxychloroquine could protect the immune system in a similar manner.
Dr. Joseph Rahimian from NYU Langone Medical Center argues that people without an autoimmune disease like Kim's should be cautious when considering using HCQ.
"There is a potential for cardiac abnormalities, abnormal heart rhythm, eye issues, retinopathy," Rahimian states.
Hydroxychloroquine Side Effects
However, like any drug, long-term use of anti-malaria pills can have side effects such as rashes, loss of appetite, bloating, and stomach cramps.
A more serious side effect is retinal damage. John Hopkins Medicine reports, 'Damage to the retina, the light-sensitive portion of the inner eye, can occur with long-term use of Plaquenil or chloroquine.'
Side effects are 'usually minor and last only for a short period of time,' and 'about 90%' of users don't experience such side effects.
Kim warns people that you're not safe taking that medication at all. (Hydroxychloroquine) is not going to prevent anything. You can still get coronavirus.
