Clofazimine: Can it be Useful in COVID 19?
Alberto Cavalchini
Di. SSal, Section of Dermatology, University of Genoa San Martino Policlinic Hospital IRCCS, Genoa, Italy.
Emanuele Cozzani
Di. SSal, Section of Dermatology, University of Genoa San Martino Policlinic Hospital IRCCS, Genoa, Italy.
Aurora Parodi *
Di. SSal, Section of Dermatology, University of Genoa San Martino Policlinic Hospital IRCCS, Genoa, Italy.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Clofazimine is a riminophenazine dye originally used as an antitubercular agent after its first synthesis in 1954, just few years after it was administered as a treatment for leprosy by YT Chang. In the following years, also an anti-inflammatory effectiveness on erythema nodosum leprosum was recognized [1]. In the ‘70s, its therapeutic activity on discoid lupus erythematosus and pyoderma gangrenosum was documented [2]. The safety of Clofazimine is good with a median frequency of the most reported adverse event (skin discoloration and gastrointestinal events) of 5.1% and a requiring discontinuation of the treatment in 0.1% of cases [3].
Keywords: Clofazimine, COVID-19, treatment.