High efficacy of two artemisinin-based combinations (artesunate + amodiaquine and artemether + lumefantrine) in Caala, Central Angola.

Abstract

In April 2004, 137 children 6-59 months of age with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria (Caala, Central Angola) were randomized to receive either artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem) or artesunate + amodiaquine (ASAQ). After 28 days of follow-up, there were 2/61 (3.2%) recurrent parasitemias in the Coartem group and 4/64 (6.2%) in the ASAQ group (P = 0.72), all classified as re-infections after PCR genotyping (cure rate = 100% [95%CI: 94-100] in both groups). Only one patient (ASAQ group) had gametocytes on day 28 versus five (Coartem) and three (ASAQ) at baseline. Compared with baseline, anemia was significantly improved after 28 days of follow-up in both groups (Coartem: from 54.1% to 13.4%; ASAQ: from 53.1% to 15.9%). Our findings are in favor of a high efficacy of both combinations in Caala. Now that Coartem has been chosen as the new first-line anti-malarial, the challenge is to insure that this drug is available and adequately used.

• Authors: Jean-Paul Guthmann, Sandra Cohuet, Christine Rigutto, Filomeno Fortes, Nilton Saraiva, James Kiguli, Juliet Kyomuhendo, Max Francis, Frédéric Noël, Maryline Mulemba, Suna Balkan
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 75 Issue 1 Pg. 143-5 (Jul 2006) ISSN: 0002-9637 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16837721 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antimalarials
• Artemisinins
• Ethanolamines
• Fluorenes
• Sesquiterpenes
• Amodiaquine
• Artesunate
• Artemether
• Lumefantrine

Topics

• Amodiaquine (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Angola
• Animals
• Antimalarials (administration & dosage, pharmacology, standards)
• Artemether
• Artemisinins (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Artesunate
• Child, Preschool
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Ethanolamines (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Female
• Fluorenes (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Humans
• Infant
• Lumefantrine
• Malaria, Falciparum (drug therapy)
• Male
• Sesquiterpenes (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Treatment Outcome