title: Prospective observational study to evaluate the clinical safety of the fixed-dose artemisinin-based combination Eurartesim® (dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine), in public health facilities in Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Ghana, and Tanzania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization recommends artemisinin-based combination (ACT) for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Post-licensure safety data on newly registered ACT is critical for evaluating their risk/benefit profile in malaria endemic countries. The clinical safety of the newly registered combination, Eurartesim®, following its introduction into the public health system in four African countries was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, observational, open-label, non-comparative, longitudinal, multi-centre study using cohort event monitoring. Patients with confirmed malaria had their first dose observed and instructed on how to take the second and the third doses at home. Patients were contacted on day 5 ± 2 to assess adherence and adverse events (AEs). Spontaneous reporting of AEs was continued till day 28. A nested cohort who completed full treatment course had repeated electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements to assess effect on QTc interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 10,925 uncomplicated malaria patients were treated with Eurartesim®. Most patients,95% (10,359/10,925), did not report any adverse event following at least one dose of Eurartesim®. A total of 797 adverse events were reported. The most frequently reported, by system organ classification, were infections and infestations (3. 24%) and gastrointestinal disorders (1. 37%). In the nested cohort, no patient had QTcF > 500 ms prior to day 3 pre-dose 3. Three patients had QTcF > 500 ms (509 ms, 501 ms, 538 ms) three to four hours after intake of the last dose. All the QTcF values in the three patients had returned to <500 ms at the next scheduled ECG on day 7 (470 ms, 442 ms, 411 ms). On day 3 pre- and post-dose 3, 70 and 89 patients, respectively, had a QTcF increase of ≥ 60 ms compared to their baseline, but returned to nearly baseline values on day 7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eurartesim® single course treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria is well-tolerated. QT interval prolongation above 500 ms may occur at a rate of three per 1,002 patients after the third dose with no association of any clinical symptoms. QT interval prolongation above 60 ms was detected in less than 10% of the patients without any clinical abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana. rita.baiden@indepth-network.org.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baiden
authors.affiliation: Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Ghana. Abraham.Oduro@navrongo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oduro
authors.affiliation: Nanoro Health Research Centre, Nanoro, Burkina Faso. tintohalidou@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Tinto
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Halidou
authors.affiliation: Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana. margaret.gyapong@ghsmail.org.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gyapong
authors.affiliation: Nouna Health Research Centre, Nouna, Burkina Faso. alisie.crsn@fasonet.bf.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sie
authors.affiliation: Centro de InvestigaçãoemSaúde de Manhiça, CISM, Manhiça, Mozambique. Eusebio.Macete@manhica.net.
authors.forename: Eusebio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Macete
authors.affiliation: Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania. sabdulla@ihi.or.tz.
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdulla
authors.affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana. seth.owusu-agyei@kintampo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owusu-Agyei
authors.affiliation: Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania. amulokozi@ihi.or.tz.
authors.forename: Abdunoor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulokozi
authors.affiliation: Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana. aadjei@dhrc-ghs.org.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.affiliation: Centro de InvestigaçãoemSaúde de Manhiça, CISM, Manhiça, Mozambique. esevene68@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Esperanca
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sevene
authors.affiliation: Nouna Health Research Centre, Nouna, Burkina Faso. gcompaore2@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Compaoré
authors.affiliation: Nanoro Health Research Centre, Nanoro, Burkina Faso. innocentvalea@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Innocent
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valea
authors.affiliation: Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Ghana. Isaac.OSEI@navrongo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Osei
authors.affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana. abena.yawson@kintampo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Abena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yawson
authors.affiliation: INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana. martin.adjuik@indepth-network.org.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adjuik
authors.affiliation: INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana. raymond.akparibo@indepth-network.org.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akparibo
authors.affiliation: INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana. bernhards.ogutu@indepth-network.org.
authors.forename: Bernhards
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ogutu
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. glupunda@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gabriel Leonard
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Upunda
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Peter.Smith@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana. fred.binka@gmail.com.|University for Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana. fred.binka@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Binka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult; D010879:Piperazines
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011804:Quinolines; C039060:artenimol; C034759:piperaquine; D010879:Piperazines