title: Artesunate/mefloquine paediatric formulation vs. artemether/lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum in Anonkoua kouté, Côte d'Ivoire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that Artesunate-mefloquine paediatric (AS+MEF) is as effective as Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in treating acute uncomplicated malaria in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an open label, randomized controlled clinical trial, children aged 6-59 months were randomized to receive AS+MEF or AL. Both drug regimens were given for 3 days, and follow-up was for 28 days. The primary endpoint was the 28-day cure rate and was defined as proportion of patients with PCR-corrected cure rate after 28 days of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifty-six patients with confirmed uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were randomly assigned to receive AS+MEF (n = 77) or AL (n = 79). PCR-corrected day 28 cure rates for per protocol (PP) populations were 99% for AS+MEF and 97% (P = 1) for AL. For the intention to treat (ITT) population, cure rates were 96% for AS+MEF and 92% (P = 0.49) for AL. Both regimens were well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AS+MEF is as effective as AL, and both combinations were efficacious and safe.
authors.affiliation: Malaria Department, Institut Pasteur, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. andre_offianan@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Offianan A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Toure
authors.forename: Menan G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kouame
authors.forename: Yapi J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Didier
authors.forename: Ako A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Berenger
authors.forename: Khali
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Djerea
authors.forename: Gomez O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Genevieve
authors.forename: Louis K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Penali
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077332:Artesunate; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes; D000077332:Artesunate; D015767:Mefloquine