title: Therapeutic efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-mefloquine for treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Luang Namtha Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
abstract: The efficacy of the six-dose regimen of artemether-lumefantrine was compared with the combination of artesunate and mefloquine in a randomised, comparative trial in Luang Namtha Province, Northern Laos. Of 1033 screened patients, 201 were positive for Plasmodium falciparum; 108 patients of all age groups (2-66 years) with acute, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were enrolled in the study, 100 of whom were followed-up for 42 days. Fifty-three patients received artemether-lumefantrine and 55 received artesunante-mefloquine. Both drug combinations induced rapid clearance of parasites and malaria symptoms; there was no significant difference in the initial therapeutic response parameters. Both regimes were well tolerated. After 42 days, cure rates were 93.6% (95% CI = 82.5-98.7%; 44 of 47 patients) for artemether-lumefantrine and 100% (95% CI = 93.3-100.0%; 53 of 53 patients) for artesunate-mefloquine. The results show the excellent efficacy and tolerability of both artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-mefloquine in Northern Laos.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stohrer
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dittrich
authors.forename: Vonthalom
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thongpaseuth
authors.forename: Viengxay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vanisaveth
authors.forename: Rattanaxay
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phetsouvanh
authors.forename: Samlane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phompida
authors.forename: Feliciano
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Christophel
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lindegardh
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Annerberg
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jelinek
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077332:Artesunate; D001682:Biological Availability; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078102:Lumefantrine; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000077332:Artesunate; D000077549:Artemether; D000078102:Lumefantrine; D015767:Mefloquine