Dear Editor,
I read the publication on “Sudden Cardiac Death in Haemodialysis Patients under Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) Treatment for COVID-19: A Report of Two Cases” with great interest [1]. In this report, “Potential risks contributing to sudden cardiac death during HQtreatment of ESRD patients are discussed [1].” Cardiac adverse effects due to HCQ are an important consideration in clinical practice. The problem might occur in any patient regardless of ESRD or not. The important questions are whether HCQ is safe for the ESRD patient or not and whether the sudden death in the present report by Murt et al. [1] is due to the disease or adverse effect of HCQ. In a recent report, HCQ was proven safe for the ESRD patient, but routine monitoring of EKG was recommended, similar to that in general people who receive the drug [2]. Regarding cardiac arrhythmia, it is a possible complication of COVID-19 regardless of HCQ use [3].
Conflict of Interest Statement
The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding Source
There is no funding.
References
- 1.Murt A, Dincer MT, Karaca C. Sudden cardiac death in haemodialysis patients under hydroxychloroquine treatment for COVID-19: a report of two cases. Blood Purif. 2020 Oct 8;:1–3. doi: 10.1159/000511392. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Giaime P, Guenoun M, Pedinielli N, Narbonne H, Bergounioux JP, Solas C, et al. Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin tolerance in haemodialysis patients during COVID-19 infection. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2020 Aug 1;35((8)):1346–53. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfaa191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Turagam MK, Musikantow D, Goldman ME, Bassily-Marcus A, Chu E, Shivamurthy P, et al. Malignant arrhythmias in patients with COVID-19: incidence, mechanisms and outcomes. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2020 Nov;13((11)):e008920. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.120.008920. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
