4 ms·

Aside from these results, what is the proposed mechanism of benefit here? And why are we expecting a mechanism with hydroxychloroquine against this virus when

Aside from these results, what is the proposed mechanism of benefit here? And why are we expecting a mechanism with hydroxychloroquine against this virus when essentially no small molecule therapies are effective against viruses in general?

mcguire 6y ago
Hydroxychloroquine is an immune suppressant and may help reduce the cytokine storm effect. How that interacts with the "you have to start it early" issue is unclear to me. And it might keep you from getting malaria while you have COVID19.
- thepangolino 6y ago
  The way HCQ is by accumulating in cells. It inhibits the replication of viruses by interfering with endosome/lysosome trafficking or viral protein maturation during virion maturation. (basically stops the virus from replicating)
  - chasd00 6y ago
    and, correct me if i'm wrong, zinc helps take it with a grain of salt but https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/zelenko-669-coronavirus-patients/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/zelenko-669-coronavirus-pa...
    - rq1 6y ago
      No grain of salt needed, the chloroquine is a zinc ionophore.
    - souprock 6y ago
      With the right grain of salt, you get zinc. Suggestions: zinc acetate, zinc chloride, zinc citrate
  - mcguire 6y ago
    "The way HCQ is by accumulating in cells." The original study that set off this flap ran for a period of 6 days. I don't know that 6 days is long enough for significant accumulation. Beyond that, unless someone has published something significant that I haven't seen, any hypothesis on the drug's effect on coronavirus is pure speculation.