title: Dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia regarding combined treatment regimens for acute uncomplicated malaria, Antioquia, Colombia.
abstract: Selecting suitable anti-malarial treatment represents one of the best tools for reducing morbidity and mortality caused by this disease. Sexual and asexual parasite dynamics were thus evaluated in patients involved in antimalarial drug efficacy studies by using combined treatment with and without artemisinin derivatives for treating uncomplicated acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Antioquia, Colombia. All treatment doses were supervised and administered according to patients' weight; sexual and asexual parasitemia were evaluated during 28- or 42-days follow-up in 468 patients. Artemisinin-based combination therapy showed greater parasiticidal ability, showing a mean asexual parasitemia survival rate of one day and mean gametocyte survival rate of 1-2 days. Sexual and asexual parasitemias were eliminated more quickly and effectively in the group receiving artemisinin-based combination therapy. Adding 45 mg of primaquine to treatment with artesunate and mefloquine reduced gametocyte and asexual parasite survival by one day.
authors.affiliation: Malaria Group, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tobón
authors.forename: Juan-Gabriel
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Piñeros
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blair
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077332:Artesunate; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects; D011319:Primaquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077332:Artesunate; C031327:artemisinin; D011319:Primaquine; D015767:Mefloquine