title: Exploration of in vivo efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine against uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in under fives in Tabora region, Tanzania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tanzania adopted artemether-lumefantrine (AL) as first-line drug for uncomplicated malaria in 2006. Recently, there was an anecdotal report on high malaria recurrence rate following AL treatment in in the (urban and peri-urban), western part of Tanzania. The current report is an exploratory study to carefully and systematically assess AL efficacy in the area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June and August 2011, a total of 1,126 patients were screened for malaria, 33 had malaria, of which 20 patients met inclusion criteria and were enrolled and treated with standard dose of AL as recommended in the WHO protocol. Treated patients were followed up for 28 days to assess treatment responses. Before treatment (Day 0) and post-treatment (Day 7) plasma lumefantrine levels were determined to assess prior AL use and ascertain parasites exposure to adequate plasma leveles of lumefantrine, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cure rate was 100%. All Day 0 plasma lumefantrine were below HPLC detectable level. The median Day 7 lumefantrine concentration was 404, (range, 189-894 ng/ml). Six out of 20 patients (30%) were gametocytaemic and all cleared gametocytes by Day 14. One patient showed an increase in gametocytes from four on Day 0 to 68, per 500 WBC on Day 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Artemether lumefantrine is highly efficacious against uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The elevation of gametocytaemia despite AL treatment needs to be evaluated in a larger study.
authors: Dar es Salaam University College of Education, PO Box 2329, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors: Deokary
authors: D
authors: Joseph
authors: Abdunoor M
authors: AM
authors: Kabanywanyi
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Hulser
authors: Zulfiqarali
authors: Z
authors: Premji
authors: Omary Ms
authors: OM
authors: Minzi
authors: Kefas
authors: K
authors: Mugittu
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D013636:Tanzania; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes
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