Temporal changes in haematocrit following artemisinin-based combination treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children.
BACKGROUND
Artemisinin-based combination treatments (ACTs) or intravenous artesunate are used in over 100 countries for uncomplicated or severe falciparum malaria. Although intravenous artesunate may cause delayed haemolytic anaemia, there is little evaluation of the temporal changes in haematocrit following ACTs.


METHODS
Clinical and parasitological parameters were measured before and following treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children with artesunate-amodiaquine (AA) or artemether-lumefantrine (AL) over 6-weeks. Changes in haematocrit were characterized in individual patients based on a haematocrit <30 % or ≥30 % before and following treatment. Kinetics of the deficit in haematocrit from <30 % until attainment of ≥30 % were estimated by a non-compartment model.


RESULTS
In 248 of 1180 children eligible for evaluation, common temporal patterns were: no change or increase in haematocrit from ≥ 30 % [50 % of patients], haematocrit >30 % at presentation declining to <30 % within 2 weeks (early monophasic fall) [19 % of patients], and haematocrit <30 % at presentation increasing to ≥ 30 % [23 % of patients]. Haematocrit >30 % at presentation declining to <30 %, 3-5 weeks later (late monophasic fall) occurred in 7 children (3 %). Fall in haematocrit ≥5 units following treatment occurred in 57 children [23 %] between 14 and 28 days after treatment began. Baseline parasitaemia and proportion with > 100,000μL(-1) asexual forms were significantly higher in children with ≥5 units compared to <5 units fall in haematocrit 21 or 28 days after treatment began. Irrespective of pattern, declines in haematocrit deficit from <30 % were mono-exponential, with similar half-times for AA- and AL-treated children (1.32 d versus 1.14 d). Anaemia half-time correlated significantly positively with anaemia recovery time in the same patients (r = 0.55, P < 0.0001). Bland-Altman analysis of 9 or 10 multiples of anaemia half-time and anaemia recovery times showed narrow limit of agreement with insignificant biases (P = 0.19 or 0.63, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
In uncomplicated falciparum malaria, increases or falls in haematocrit are common following ACTs. Falls in haematocrit ≥ 5 units are common and may or may not result in early or late anaemia. In children who recovered from acute falciparum malaria-associated anaemia following ACTs, decline in haematocrit deficit is mono-exponential.


BACKGROUND
Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR201508001188143 , 3 July 2015; PACTR201508001191898 , 7 July 2015 http://www.pactr.org .
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. akinsowunmi@hotmail.com.|Institute for Medical Research and Training, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. akinsowunmi@hotmail.com.
Akintunde
A
Sowunmi
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. heycarnow@yahoo.com.
Kazeem
K
Akano
Department of Paediatrics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. idayede@yahoo.co.uk.
Adejumoke I
AI
Ayede
Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria. ntadomg@yahoo.com.
Godwin
G
Ntadom
World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. fatunmbib@wpro.who.int.
Bayo
B
Fatunmbi
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. tope_forever@yahoo.com.
Temitope
T
Aderoyeje
Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. elolade@yahoo.com.
Elsie O
EO
Adewoye
D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000293:Adolescent; D000655:Amodiaquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000962:Antimalarials; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes; C515299:amodiaquine, artesunate drug combination; D000655:Amodiaquine; C031327:artemisinin