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Context. Off-label, compassionate use of potential drugs against SARS-CoV-2 acute infection could modify their safety profiles. Aims. To evaluate the prevalence and type of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), together with associated risk factors, among Cuban COVID-19 patients treated with chloroquine (CQ), lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), or interferon α2b (IFN α2b), according to the Cuban protocol. Materials and Methods. A prospective descriptive analysis of ADRs was performed on 200 COVID-19 patients who were admitted consecutively to three hospitals in Havana and Pinar del Río from April to July 2020. Information on demographics, ADRs, outcomes, behavioral, and health-related factors was collected using a validated questionnaire and clinical records. Each potential ADR case was assessed for causality based on the WHO-UMC algorithm, concomitant drug influences, and the presence of any drug-drug interactions (DDI). Results. The total frequency of ADRs was 55%, with predominantly gastrointestinal disorders and general symptoms (23% vs 20%). 95.1% of ADRs occurred within 10 days after treatment and 42 potential DDI in 55.5% of patients (61/110) were observed. The prevalence of ADRs was: 44%, 30.4%, and 26.4% for IFN α2b, LPV/r, and CQ, respectively. Sex (odds ratio (OR): 0.40 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.211–0.742), age (OR: 2.36 (95% CI: 1.02–5.44)), and underlying diseases (OR: 0.12 (95% CI: 0.06–0.23)) were independently associated factors for ADRs ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusions. The frequency of ADRs and potential DDI was high compared to their use during nonpandemic times (e.g., for malaria, HIV, or inflammatory diseases). The safety profile of these drugs when used for COVID-19 treatment showed similar characteristics. Comorbidities, age >37 years old, and female sex were associated with ADRs.

Context: COVID-19 related to SARS-CoV-2 infection generates inflammation with increased reactive oxygen species production. Drug treatment and others factors could influence systemic oxidative stress during pathogenic insult. Aims: To determine the redox status in COVID-19 patients with different clinical conditions and explore the relationship between redox and hematological hemochemical variables. Methods: In this comparative longitudinal study, blood samples were drawn from 160 individuals divided into four groups: COVID-19 asymptomatic, COVID-19 symptomatic (low and moderate symptoms), COVID-19 convalescent, and presumable healthy subjects. Demographic, redox, hematological, and hemochemical indices were assessed. Statistical analyses compared the median values of each variable and explored individual, simultaneous indices, and multivariate alteration. Results: Relative to the healthy group, acute COVID-19, and convalescent groups had significant differences in global damage indices and antioxidant status (p<0.05). The convalescent group showed significantly higher damage (malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products, nitric oxide) and lower antioxidant enzymatic activities and glutathione concentration compared to other groups (p<0.05). Global modification of redox indices showed that more than 80% of studied individuals in acute conditions had simultaneous detrimental differences compared to a healthy status. The discriminant analysis permitted obtaining two canonical functions (p< 0.05) that reflect 98% of redox variables with 95% of variances with successful case classifications. Conclusions: These results corroborate that oxidative stress occurred in different COVID-19 and post-acute conditions with different molecular alterations of redox indices. Redox diagnosis should be considered in early diagnosis and treatment of infection, which would be worthwhile to conduct a more comprehensive study and management of disease evolution.

Objectives: Infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) generates sustained reactive oxygen species production. An increasing number of studies underline the pathogenic impact of high-grade local and systemic oxidative stress in the activation of Herpesvirus 8 producing Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) co-infection in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. This study aimed to determine the redox status in AIDS-KS Cuban individuals and to explore the relation between redox and progression variables. Methods: Blood samples were drawn from 99 individuals divided into three groups (33 each one; age range 30-50 years): AIDS, AIDS-KS, and presumable healthy subjects. Total peroxide, malondialdehyde, and advanced oxidation protein products as damage indexes and antioxidant responses (glutathione, peroxidation potential, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) were determined from the blood samples. Furthermore, hematological and hemochemical indexes, progression indexes (viral load, CD4 + T lymphocyte absolute count), and tumoral progression indexes were assessed. Different statistical analyses were done. Results: Compared to healthy subjects, both groups of AIDS patients had significant differences in global indices of damage and antioxidant status. The comparison between the groups revealed that AIDS-KS group had a significantly higher damage and lower antioxidant status compared to the healthy control and AIDS groups. Multivariate statistical analysis clearly separated groups according progression indexes and redox profile, obtaining two canonical functions. Conclusions: These results corroborate that substantial oxidative stress occurs in AIDS condition and also during KS-HIV co-infection with different molecular extension and interdependence to progression indexes. Redox indexes diagnosis should be considered in early diagnostics, prevention and treatment of KS-HIV coinfection, which would be worthwhile to conduct a more comprehensive study and manage of infection.

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