An open label, randomised trial of artesunate+amodiaquine, artesunate+chlorproguanil-dapsone and artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria.
BACKGROUND
Artesunate+amodiaquine (AS+AQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) are now the most frequently recommended first line treatments for uncomplicated malaria in Africa. Artesunate+chlorproguanil-dapsone (AS+CD) was a potential alternative for treatment of uncomplicated malaria. A comparison of the efficacy and safety of these three drug combinations was necessary to make evidence based drug treatment policies.


METHODS
Five hundred and thirty-four, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) normal children were randomised in blocks of 15 to the AS+AQ, AL or AS+CD groups. Administration of study drugs was supervised by project staff and the children were followed up at r home on days 1,2,3,7,14 and 28 post treatment. Parasitological and clinical failures and adverse events were compared between the study groups.


RESULTS
In a per-protocol analysis, the parasitological and clinical failure rate at day 28 post treatment (PCF28) was lower in the AS+AQ group compared to the AL or AS+CD groups (corrected for re-infections: 6.6% vs 13.8% and 13.8% respectively, p = 0.08; uncorrected: 14.6% vs 27.6% and 28.1% respectively, p = 0.005). In the intention to treat analysis, the rate of early treatment failure was high in all three groups (AS+AQ 13.3%; AL 15.2%; and AS+CD 9.3%, p = 0.2) primarily due to vomiting. However, the PCF28 corrected for re-infection was lower, though not significantly, in the AS+AQ group compared to the AL or the AS+CD groups (AS+AQ 18.3%; AL 24.2%; AS+CD 20.8%, p = 0.4) The incidence of adverse events was comparable between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
AS+AQ is an appropriate first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in Ghana and possibly in the neighbouring countries in West Africa. The effectiveness of AL in routine programme conditions needs to be studied further in West Africa.


BACKGROUND
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00119145.
Owusu-Agyei
Seth
S
Kintmapo Health Research Centre, Ministry of Health, Kintampo, Ghana.
Asante
Kwaku Poku
KP
Owusu
Ruth
R
Adjuik
Martin
M
Amenga-Etego
Stephen
S
Dosoo
David Kwame
DK
Gyapong
John
J
Greenwood
Brian
B
Chandramohan
Daniel
D
D000655:Amodiaquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077332:Artesunate; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003622:Dapsone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000078102:Lumefantrine; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D002727:Proguanil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes; D000655:Amodiaquine; D000077332:Artesunate; C007030:chlorproguanil; D003622:Dapsone; D000077549:Artemether; D000078102:Lumefantrine; D002727:Proguanil