Efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-mefloquine on acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-mefloquine on acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients with symptomatic falciparum malaria were allocated to receive oral dihydroartemisinin at a single dose of 120 mg on day 1, followed by mefioquine, 750 mg and 500 mg on days 2 and 3, respectively. Follow-up was performed on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28.


RESULTS
All patients had a rapid initial response to treatment. The parasite clearance time (PCT) after treatment was 30.7 +/- 3.6 hours. The fever subsidence time (FST) after treatment was 21.2 +/- 2.8 hours. Two patients had a recrudescence 21 and 25 days respectively after the disappearance of parasitemia, hence the recrudescence rate was 3.7% and the cure rate was 96.3%. No serious adverse effects were observed, only mild and transient nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.


CONCLUSIONS
A combination of dihydroartemisinin and mefloquine is effective in the treatment of acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
Wang
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Department of Infectious Diseases, Dongguan People's Hospital, Dongguan, Guandong 523000, China. Pwangwen@pub.dgnet.gd.cn
Yang
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Micha
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D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C039060:artenimol; D015767:Mefloquine