On chikungunya acute infection and chloroquine treatment

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2008 Dec;8(6):837-9. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2008.0049.

Abstract

In recent issues, the efficacy of chloroquine (and the dosage that may be used) in the treatment of acute chikungunya infections was discussed. We have conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial on the French Reunion Island (Indian Ocean), in which 27 patients received chloroquine and 27 patients received a placebo treatment. The chloroquine treatment consisted of 600 mg at day 1, 600 mg at days 2 and 3, and 300 mg at days 4 and 5. No significant difference between groups could be identified regarding the duration of febrile arthralgia or the decrease of viremia between day 1 and day 3. However, at day 200, patients who received chloroquine complained more frequently of arthralgia than those who received placebo (p < 0.01). In conclusion, our results suggest that there is currently no justification for the use of chloroquine to treat acute chikungunya infections.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Alphavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Chikungunya virus*
  • Chloroquine / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Humans
  • Reunion
  • Time Factors
  • Viremia / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Chloroquine