[How much primaquine is needed to eradicate Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites?].
BACKGROUND
Primaquine is now the only drug available to eradicate Plasmodium vivax malaria. The optimal dose of primaquine to prevent relapses of P. vivax remains under discussion.


METHODS
We describe three cases of P. vivax malaria from different geographical areas, in which a tolerance to standard doses of primaquine and, in some cases, to much higher doses has been observed.


CONCLUSIONS
P. vivax tolerance to primaquine is an emerging problem in daily practice. Reassessment of the primaquine dose required to eradicate P. vivax intrahepatic hypnozoites is needed.
Muñoz
José
J
Sección de Medicina Tropical, Centro de Salud Internacional, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain. jmunozg@clinic.ub.es
Velasco
María
M
Alonso
David
D
Valls
María Eugenia
ME
Corachán
Manuel
M
Gascón
Joaquim
J
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000187:drug effects*; D011319:Primaquine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000962:Antimalarials; D011319:Primaquine