Five cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria treated with artemisinin derivatives: the advantages of a unified approach to treatment.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

In endemic countries with a high level of chloroquine resistance, Plasmodium vivax malaria is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In these areas, the dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine combination resulted in clinical response, a more rapid clearance of parasitaemia, compared to chloroquine therapies, and reduction of recrudescence or reinfection.

METHODS:

We describe five cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria in returning travelers treated with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine.

RESULTS:

All patients showed the early parasite clearance and no side effects. Our preliminary results suggest that the dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine combination is effective and safe even in imported cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

A unified treatment policy using the artemisinin combination therapy should be adopted even in non-endemic countries and larger studies are underway to support this strategy.

• Authors: Angela Corpolongo, Raffaella Pisapia, Alessandra Oliva, Maria Letizia Giancola, Paola Mencarini, Nazario Bevilacqua, Piero Ghirga, Andrea Mariano, Antonella Vulcano, Maria Grazia Paglia, Emanuele Nicastri
• Journal: Infection (Infection) Vol. 47 Issue 4 Pg. 655-659 (Aug 2019) ISSN: 1439-0973 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 30809760 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimalarials
• Artemisinins
• artenimol
• Primaquine

Topics

• Adult
• Antimalarials (therapeutic use)
• Artemisinins (therapeutic use)
• Drug Therapy, Combination (statistics & numerical data)
• Female
• Humans
• Italy
• Malaria, Vivax (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Primaquine (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult