A Case of Breakthrough COVID-19 during Hydroxychloroquine Maintenance

J Korean Med Sci. 2020 Jun 22;35(24):e231. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e231.

Abstract

There have been controversies on the prophylactic effect of hydroxychloroquine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). We describe a patient, 60-year old Korean woman, with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who had been taking hydroxychloroquine for 6 months. Her serum and saliva concentrations of hydroxychloroquine were 280 μg/L and 4,890 μg/L, respectively. The present case raises concerns on hydroxychloroquine's role as a prophylactic agent for COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hydroxychloroquine; Prophylaxis; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Monophosphate / analogs & derivatives
  • Adenosine Monophosphate / therapeutic use
  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives
  • Alanine / therapeutic use
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Azithromycin / therapeutic use
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • Primary Prevention / methods
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • remdesivir
  • Adenosine Monophosphate
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Azithromycin
  • Alanine