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Editorial
. 2020 Jun 16;172(12):819-821.
doi: 10.7326/M20-1223. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

A Rush to Judgment? Rapid Reporting and Dissemination of Results and Its Consequences Regarding the Use of Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19

Alfred H J Kim  1 , Jeffrey A Sparks  2 , Jean W Liew  3 , Michael S Putman  4 , Francis Berenbaum  5 , Alí Duarte-García  6 , Elizabeth R Graef  7 , Peter Korsten  8 , Sebastian E Sattui  9 , Emily Sirotich  10 , Manuel F Ugarte-Gil  11 , Kate Webb  12 , Rebecca Grainger  13 ; COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance
Collaborators, Affiliations
Editorial

A Rush to Judgment? Rapid Reporting and Dissemination of Results and Its Consequences Regarding the Use of Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19

Alfred H J Kim et al. Ann Intern Med. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Hydroxychloroquine, an essential treatment for many patients with rheumatologic conditions, has recently garnered widespread attention as a potential treatment for COVID-19 infection. The authors appraise the study generating this interest and highlight the potential consequences of rapid dissemination of overinterpreted data, particularly for people with conditions for which hydroxychloroquine has demonstrated benefits in preventing organ damage and life-threatening disease flares.

Keywords: Antimalarials; Biomarkers; COVID-19; Chloroquine; Intensive care units; Metastasis; Polymerase chain reaction; Post-exposure prophylaxis; Safety; Viral load.

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Figures

Figure.
Figure.
Global Google Trends search patterns for “hydroxychloroquine,” “chloroquine,” and “hydroxychloroquine shortage,” 16 to 22 March 2020. The spike on 17 March corresponded with the publication of Gautret and colleagues' report (4). The second spike on 20 March followed the U.S. presidential press conference in which hydroxychloroquine was described as a treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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