Mefloquine treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in young children 6-24 months of age in northern Ghana.
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| Abstract |
Mefloquine (MQ) single dose 20 mg/kg treatment of falciparum malaria was evaluated in 186 children of 6-24 months of age in northern Ghana. There were 15 RII/RIII-type parasitologic failures, all with Day 2 MQ blood levels significantly lower than children whose parasitemias cleared before Day 7 and remained clear through 28 days. Predictors of RII/RIII parasitologic response were vomiting after MQ dosing, Day 2 MQ levels < 500 ng/mL, and undetectable Day 2 levels of the carboxymefloquine metabolite. There were 50 cases of delayed RI parasitologic failure, but 71% of these cases had undetectable Day 28 blood levels of MQ and drug levels in the remaining 29% ranged below the 620 ng/mL level that suppresses MQ sensitive strains of P. falciparum. Drug levels among infants that tolerated MQ well were not associated with age, weight, hemoglobin, parasitemia, and pre-existing symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea. An observed recurrent parasitemia of 34,400 trophozoites/microL against a MQ blood concentration of 550 ng/mL was taken as indication of tolerance to suppressive levels of the drug at this location.
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| Authors | David J Fryauff, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Gregory Utz, J Kevin Baird, Kwadwo A Koram, Fred Binka, Francis Nkrumah, Stephen L Hoffman |
| Journal | The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 76 Issue 2 Pg. 224-31 (Feb 2007) ISSN: 0002-9637 [Print] United States |
| PMID | 17297028 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.) |
| Chemical References |
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