| Abstract | The prophylactic antimalarial activity of atovaquone was determined in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of healthy volunteers who were challenged by the bite of Plasmodium falciparum-infected Anopheles stephensi. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups: six received seven daily doses of 750 mg of atovaquone, starting the day before challenge; six received a single dose of 250 mg of atovaquone the day before challenge; and four received placebo. Polymerase chain reaction- and culture-confirmed parasitemia developed in all four placebo recipients, but in none of the drug recipients, indicating that either of the atovaquone regimens provides effective prophylaxis (P = 0.005). However, in low-dose recipients, the drug levels by day 6.5 were profoundly subtherapeutic, indicating that parasites were eliminated prior to the establishment of erythrocytic infection. Atovaquone thus protects non-immune subjects against mosquito-transmitted falciparum malaria, and has causal prophylactic activity. |
| Authors | T A Shapiro, C D Ranasinha, N Kumar, P Barditch-Crovo
(Affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.)
|
| Journal | The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
(Am J Trop Med Hyg)
Vol. 60
Issue 5
Pg. 831-6
(May 1999)
ISSN: 0002-9637 UNITED STATES |
| PMID | 10344660
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
|
| Chemical References |
- Antimalarials
- Naphthoquinones
- Atovaquone
|
| Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Animals
- Anopheles
(parasitology, physiology)
- Antimalarials
(adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
- Atovaquone
- Double-Blind Method
- Humans
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Malaria, Falciparum
(immunology, prevention & control)
- Middle Aged
- Naphthoquinones
(adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
- Parasitemia
(parasitology)
- Plasmodium falciparum
(drug effects, genetics, isolation & purification)
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
(methods)
|
