Treatment of severe falciparum malaria with artesunate and mefloquine.
OBJECTIVE
To study the therapeutic efficacy of low dose intravenous artesunate followed by oral mefloquine in severe falciparum malaria in Singapore.


METHODS
Retrospective review of 4 cases of severe falciparum malaria admitted for treatment in a private hospital in the first six months of this year. Patients were considered cured when no malaria parasites were detected in the blood film on discharge and remained afebrile at 28 days.


RESULTS
This drug regimen was well tolerated, rapidly reduced parasitaemia and achieved 100% cure in all four patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Low dose intravenous artesunate followed by mefloquine was found to be well tolerated and rapidly effective in treating severe falciparum malaria contracted in Indonesia and India. There was no relapse of clinical disease in all four cases after 28 days.
Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore.
S Y
SY
Chung
R
R
Das
C T
CT
Oon
D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077332:Artesunate; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000077332:Artesunate; D015767:Mefloquine