Toxic effects of some drugs utilized for COVID-19 infection in albino rats

Abstract

Background: During the scourge of SARS-CoV-2 infection, some drugs have been used off-label alone or in combination for the prevention and treatment. The scope of drugs seems to spread across different chemical entities.
Aim: This study assessed the toxic effects of some drugs used off-label such as Chloroquine, Azithromycin, Atazanavir/Ritonavir, Lopinavir/Ritonavir and Zinc combinations in albino wistar rats.
Method: The drugs combinations were grouped as chloroquine (CQQ), chloroquine, azithromycin and zinc (CZIZN), chloroquine, azithromycin, atanavir/ritonavir and zinc (CZIARZN), chloroquine, azithromycin, lopinavir/ritonavir, and zinc (CZILIRTZN) in recommended doses of kg/body weight. All drugs were administered orally for a study period of twenty-one days after acclimatization. After drug administration, the rats were weighed after day 14 and 28. They were sacrificed under chloroform
anaesthesia. Collected blood samples were assessed for common toxicity markers such as lipid profile, serum electrolytes, serum glucose and haematological indices.
Result: Out of the 38 toxicological parameters studied, 14 were significantly altered. There was a significant reduction in body weight due to CZIARZN and CZILIRTZN after 10 days, the reduction persisted until 21 day (P<0.05). Serum glucose level reduced in all the groups but more prominent with CZIZN combination. Serum chloride ion changed significantly due to CZIARZN (P<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase also increased significantly due to CCZIARZN, CZILIRTZN (P<0.05). Eleven out of nineteen haematological parameters changed significantly (P<0.05). Serum glucose and lipids were not altered significantly. After ten days, five (5) animals died in the group receiving CZIARZN, while three rats died in the group receiving CZILIRTZN combination.
Conclusion: The utilized anti-COVID-19 drugs used singly or as combination altered renal, liver, and haematological parameters. Even when there were no changes in other parameters, there is still need for caution in the use of drugs because some individuals may be dose sensitive.