Search

Introduction: Hydroxycloroquine (HCQ) has been extensively studied for treatment and prevention of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID‐19) from the start of the pandemic. Conflicting evidence about its usefulness has begun to accrue. Methods: In the face of controversial results about clinical efficacy of HCQ, we performed a rapid systematic review to assess its safety in the framework of COVID‐19 randomized clinical trials. Results: Five studies investigating 2291 subjects were included. The use of HCQ was associated with higher risk of adverse event compared with placebo or standard of care: odds ratio 4.57, 95% confidence interval 2.14–9.45. Conclusion: Safety profile of HCQ appears to be unsatisfactory when used to treat or prevent COVID‐19, especially in the light of unproved clinical benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Suppression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication with nucelos(t)ide analogues should be considered for patients with chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection and ongoing HBV replication. Aim: To verify the clinical outcome after long‐term entecavir or tenofovir treatment in patients with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis, ineligible to peg‐interferon therapy. Methods: Patients were prospectively followed‐up at 3‐6 month intervals; measured outcomes were decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver transplant and liver related death. HBV monoinfected patients receiving the same treatment served as reference after 1:1 matching by age, gender, platelet count, albumin level, bilirubin and INR. Results: 56 HDV patients (48 with cirrhosis; median follow‐up 50 months) were enrolled; all achieved HBV DNA suppression. Death or liver transplant occurred in 19 patients, with a rate (n/1000 patient‐months) of 2.92 in HDV patients vs 0.38 in HBV monoinfected patients (P < 0.001); similarly, decompensation occurred at a rate of 1.53 vs 0.13 (P = 0.015), respectively, and the rate of HCC was almost thrice in HDV cohort (3.12 vs 1.12; P = 0.02) Platelet count, Child‐Pugh score and marginally HDV infection were associated with HCC development. Conclusion: Patients with HDV infection and advanced liver disease maintain an increased risk of severe clinical events as compared with HBV monoinfected patients, during prolonged HBV DNA suppression with potent NA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]