title: Efficacy and tolerability of four antimalarial combinations in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Senegal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In view of the high level of chloroquine resistance in many countries, WHO has recommended the use of combination therapy with artemisinin derivatives in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum. Four antimalarial drug combinations, artesunate plus amodiaquine (Arsucam), artesunate plus mefloquine (Artequin), artemether plus lumefantrine (Coartem; four doses and six doses), and amodiaquine plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, were studied in five health districts in Senegal.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive, analytical, open, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of these four antimalarial combinations in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria using the 2002 WHO protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All drug combinations demonstrated good efficacy. On day 28, all combinations resulted in an excellent clinical and parasitological response rate of 100% after correction for PCR results, except for the four-dose artemether-lumefantrine regimen (96.4%). Follow-up of approximately 10% of each treatment group on day 42 demonstrated an efficacy of 100%.The combinations were well tolerated clinically and biologically. No unexpected side-effect was observed and all side-effects disappeared at the end of treatment. No serious side-effect requiring premature termination of treatment was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The four combinations are effective and well-tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Pharmacie et Odontologie, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal. bfaye67@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Babacar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faye
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: Daouda
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: Yemou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dieng
authors.forename: Oumar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Faye
authors.forename: Oumar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gaye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000655:Amodiaquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077332:Artesunate; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000078102:Lumefantrine; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012675:Senegal; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000655:Amodiaquine; C001205:fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination; D000077332:Artesunate; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D000077549:Artemether; D000078102:Lumefantrine; D015767:Mefloquine; D011739:Pyrimethamine