sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
Efficacy and tolerability of four antimalarial combinations in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Senegal
Babacar Faye
, Jean-Louis Ndiaye , Daouda Ndiaye , Yemou Dieng , Oumar Faye and Oumar Gaye
Malaria Journal 2007, 6:80 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-6-80
<table class="smalltext" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr> <td>Published</td> <td width="25"> </td> <td>14 June 2007</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Abstract (provisional)
The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.
Background
In view of the high level of chloroquine resistance in many countries, WHO has recommended the use of combination therapy with artemisinin derivatives in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum. Four antimalarial drug combinations, artesunate plus amodiaquine (Arsucam(R)), artesunate plus mefloquine (Artequin(R)), artemether plus lumefantrine (Coartem(R); four doses and six doses), and amodiaquine plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, were studied in five health districts in Senegal.
Methods
This is a descriptive, analytical, open, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of these four antimalarial combinations in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria using the 2002 WHO protocol.
Results
All drug combinations demonstrated good efficacy. On day 28, all combinations resulted in an excellent clinical and parasitological response rate of 100% after correction for PCR results, except for the four-dose artemether-lumefantrine regimen (96.4%). Follow-up of approximately 10% of each treatment group on day 42 demonstrated an efficacy of 100%. The combinations were well tolerated clinically and biologically. No unexpected side-effect was observed and all side-effects disappeared at the end of treatment. No serious side-effect requiring premature termination of treatment was observed.
Conclusion
The four combinations are effective and well-tolerated.
Babacar Faye
, Jean-Louis Ndiaye , Daouda Ndiaye , Yemou Dieng , Oumar Faye and Oumar Gaye Malaria Journal 2007, 6:80 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-6-80
<table class="smalltext" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr> <td>Published</td> <td width="25"> </td> <td>14 June 2007</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Abstract (provisional)
The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.
Background
In view of the high level of chloroquine resistance in many countries, WHO has recommended the use of combination therapy with artemisinin derivatives in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum. Four antimalarial drug combinations, artesunate plus amodiaquine (Arsucam(R)), artesunate plus mefloquine (Artequin(R)), artemether plus lumefantrine (Coartem(R); four doses and six doses), and amodiaquine plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, were studied in five health districts in Senegal.
Methods
This is a descriptive, analytical, open, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of these four antimalarial combinations in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria using the 2002 WHO protocol.
Results
All drug combinations demonstrated good efficacy. On day 28, all combinations resulted in an excellent clinical and parasitological response rate of 100% after correction for PCR results, except for the four-dose artemether-lumefantrine regimen (96.4%). Follow-up of approximately 10% of each treatment group on day 42 demonstrated an efficacy of 100%. The combinations were well tolerated clinically and biologically. No unexpected side-effect was observed and all side-effects disappeared at the end of treatment. No serious side-effect requiring premature termination of treatment was observed.
Conclusion
The four combinations are effective and well-tolerated.