title: Neuropathological assessment of artemether-treated severe malaria.
abstract: In animals, high doses of intramuscular artemether and artemotil have been shown to cause an unusual pattern of selective damage to certain brainstem nuclei, especially those implicated in hearing and balance. We aimed to investigate whether a similar pattern arises in human adults. We examined the brainstems of adults who died after treatment with high dose artemether or quinine for severe falciparum malaria for evidence of a pattern of selective neuronal damage. Neuropathological findings were similar in recipients of quinine (n=15) and artemether (n=6; total artemether doses received 4-44 mg/kg). No evidence was recorded for artemether-induced neurotoxic effects.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Hien
authors.forename: G D H
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: N T H
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Phu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bethell
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Blakemore
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cavanagh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dayan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Medana
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: N P J
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011803:Quinine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D011803:Quinine; D000077549:Artemether; C055141:artemotil