[The halofantrine treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Clinical experience].
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of halofantrine in the treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum since the resistance of these plasmodium to chloroquine is increasing in countries of Western Africa.


METHODS
Between January 1991 and June 1994 we studied 50 children from Equatorial Guinea. All of them were black and between the ages of 8 months and 13 years. They were treated with 3 doses of halofantrine (8 mg/kg every 6 hours). The definitive diagnosis was made by the demonstration of the parasites on thick and thin blood smears, stained by standard methods, repeated every 24-72 yours after therapy. We considered the disappearance of fever and the clearance of plasmodium from the red blood cells as signs of response to the treatment. We also monitored the tolerance and the adverse side effects of the drug.


RESULTS
All of the patients responded favorably with the disappearance of the fever after 24 hours and after 72 hours no parasites were seen in red blood cells. Only one patient had a recurrence, which occurred on the 10th day. All patient satisfactorily tolerated the drug and only 3 children showed an increase of aminotransferases that was spontaneously cured.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that halofantrine is a safe and efficient drug for the treatment of children diagnosed with malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum.
Villota Arrieta
J
J
Servicio de Pediatría, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid.
Barreiro Casal
G
G
García López
M
M
Cilleruelo Ortega
M J
MJ
Mellado Peña
M J
MJ
Pérez Jurado
M L
ML
Martín Fontelos
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D016703:Equatorial Guinea / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000208:ethnology; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013030:Spain
D000962:Antimalarials; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C023768:halofantrine