Buket Mermit ÇİLİNGİR, Aysel SUNNETCİOGLU, Hanifi YİLDİZ, Nuruban Delal BAYKAL, Berrak MERMİT ERÇEK

What Is The Case of More Accessible Treatment Options in COVID 19: Comparison of Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir Based on Laboratory Values

Two of the drugs are frequently used in COVID-19 treatment algorithm because of their low cost, easy availability andapplication; Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Favipiravir. Our aim in this study is to compare the laboratory parameters ofpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 Pneumonia in whom HCQ and Favipiravir treatment was initiated, and to reveal thedifference in the effectiveness of the treatments.64 COVID-19 patients whose diagnoses were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) ofnasopharyngeal swab samples and pneumonia image compatible with COVID-19 on Thorax CT were included in the study.Patients were divided into three groups: treated with HCQ, treated with favipiravir, and who were switched to favipiravirtreatment when they did not benefit from HCQ. We compared the laboratory values on Day 1, Day 5 and at discharge.When compared in terms of laboratory values, there was no significant difference between the groups in which HCQ andFavipiravir was initiated. In the patient group who did not improve with HCQ and switched to favipiravir treatment,lymphocyte levels increased and ferritin, CRP and d-dimer values decreased. The decrease in D-dimer and CRP values wasstatistically significant (p= 0.029, p= 0.048). PLT, Hemoglobin, RDW, MPV, NLR, PLR, INR values did not changesignificantly in any patient group.Our study with the most commonly used drugs in our country reveals that HCQ and Favipiravir are not superior to eachother. When we changed the treatment with favipiravir in the group of patients receiving HCQ whose clinical an d / orlaboratory values deteriorated, D-dimer and CRP values decreased during discharge. This finding shows how effective thetimely treatment change is in the recovery of the patient by closely following the patient clinically and interpreting thelaboratory values correctly. In COVID-19, we should direct the treatment of our patients by following the symptoms, riskfactors and especially laboratory values.

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