ABSTRACT

Repurposing existing drugs for COVID-19 treatment, often in combinations, offers a faster approach but raises concerns about potential side effects, particularly on blood cell counts. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of various treatment combinations on hematological parameters in a Wistar rat. A total of 60 albino rats were divided into control group and nine (9) test groups treated with chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, azithromycin, lopinavir/ritonavir, zinc/selenium, and three other groups with various combination therapies for 28 days. Albino rats were sacrificed under chloroform anesthesia and hematological parameters were analyzed using the automated three parts ERMA hematology Auto analyser PCE-210N and assayed for toxicity marker. samples were collected and assayed for toxicity marker. Data were analyzed and compared between the various groups and the control using an appropriate statistical tool (GraphPad prism-10) using one-way ANOVA. The result showed that white blood cell (WBC) count of Animals treated combination 9 (8.7±1.2), 7(6.6±0.6), HQ (3.8±0.5), IV (4.3±0.6) were significantly higher than that of the control (3.4±I.0) (P < 0.05). A statistically significant differences was observed in the level CQ (5.9±0.2),HQ (6.1±0.3), IV (6.0±0.4), LR (6.2±0.1), AZ (6.1±0.2), ZNSE (6.2±0.2), 7 (6.5±0.2) AND 9 (6.0±0.3), in RBC when compare to CON (4.0±0.9),  (P < 0.05). Hemoglobin was significantly higher in animals treated with HQ (12±0.5), CQ (10.6±1.0), IV (11.4±0.8), LR (12.2±0.4), AZ (11.9±0.), ZN/SE (12.3±0.5), 7 (13.3±1.0), 9 (11.6±0.3), 8 (10.4±0.5), PRO (10.6±0.4) when compared to the control group (6.1±2.0). Granulocyte was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in animals treated with ZN/SE (3.5±0.6), LR (4.0±0.8), PRO (2,6±0.2) when compared to the control group (7.6±1.6). Lymphocyte was significantly higher in animals treated with combination 9 (8.03±1.08), HQ (3.5±0.49) when compared to the control group (3.48±0.9). Mean cell volume was significantly higher in animals treated with HQ (54.7±0.83), AZ (52.8±0.6), ZN/SE (52.5±0.3), IV (52.7±0.5), 8 (53.4±1.04) when compared to the control group (49.23±0.74). There was no significant difference in mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration and platelet count in experimental animals across all treated groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this finding suggest that these combinations can significantly alter white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, and granulocyte count compared to the control group and as well as Prostate Antigen. Further research is needed to explore the long-term consequences of these combinations on blood cell health and to investigate the observed increase in Proviron levels and its potential link to prostate cancer. Additionally, studies on humans are crucial to confirm these findings and determine the optimal treatment approaches for individual patients.