Hydroxychloroquine Treatment Raises CK-MB and ACH Levels in the Mice

Abstract

Recently, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the antimalarial drug, has been proposed as an effective treatment for Covid-19, But in April 2020, the Food and Drug Administration warned service providers against using it because of its serious heart rhythm effects. So this research aimed to demonstrate the impact of HCQ treatment on heart function by determined CK-MB and acetylcholine (ACH) levels in the mice. Thirty adult male albino Balb/C mice, aged 2-3 months, were used in this study. These mice were divided randomly into three groups (n=10): (T1) treated with the high dose of hydroxychloroquine (8.1mg/kg body weight, 2-times for 10days), (T2) treated with the low dose of hydroxychloroquine (6.4mg/kg body weight, 2-times in the first day and then 1-time for 4days), while (C) is left without treated and served as a control group. Mice were sacrificed in different time points by cervical distraction. The blood sample is collected from the eye and the Serum is separated to be used for CK-MB level determination Spanish Linear chemicals device using Roshe company's kits. Brain, spleen, and kidney were taken and homogenized to be used for Ach level determinations by ELISA technique using Mslin-China Ach kits. The results showed significantly higher CK-MB level in the T1 group compared to T2 and C groups and significantly higher ACH level in all studied tissues of both treated groups compared to control. These results indicate that HCQ could dangerously raise the heart rate, so caution and monitoring while using it are advised.