Pulmonary toxicity with mefloquine.

Abstract

This report presents a case of acute lung injury developing within hours after administration of mefloquine for a low-level Plasmodium falciparum malaria, which was persistent despite halofantrine therapy. Extensive microbiological investigation remained negative and video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy demonstrated diffuse alveolar damage. The evolution was favourable without treatment. This is the second report of acute lung injury and diffuse alveolar damage caused by mefloquine. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency was present in the former case and was thought to contribute to the lung injury. However, glucose-phosphate dehydrogenase was normal in the present case, suggesting that it is not a predisposing condition to the lung injury.

• Authors: E Udry, F Bailly, M Dusmet, P Schnyder, R Lemoine, J W Fitting
• Journal: The European respiratory journal (Eur Respir J) Vol. 18 Issue 5 Pg. 890-2 (Nov 2001) ISSN: 0903-1936 [Print] England
• PMID: 11757641 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimalarials
• Mefloquine

Topics

• Antimalarials (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Malaria, Falciparum (drug therapy)
• Male
• Mefloquine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Pulmonary Alveoli (pathology)
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome (chemically induced, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed