Efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in mainland Tanzania, 2018

© 2024. The Author(s)..

BACKGROUND: The use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is the most widely adopted first-line ACT for uncomplicated malaria in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including mainland Tanzania, where it was introduced in December 2006. The WHO recommends regular assessment to monitor the efficacy of the first-line treatment specifically considering that artemisinin partial resistance was reported in Greater Mekong sub-region and has been confirmed in East Africa (Rwanda and Uganda). The main aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of AL for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in mainland Tanzania.

METHODS: A single-arm prospective anti-malarial drug efficacy trial was conducted in Kibaha, Mlimba, Mkuzi, and Ujiji (in Pwani, Morogoro, Tanga, and Kigoma regions, respectively) in 2018. The sample size of 88 patients per site was determined based on WHO 2009 standard protocol. Participants were febrile patients (documented axillary temperature ≥ 37.5 °C and/or history of fever during the past 24 h) aged 6 months to 10 years. Patients received a 6-dose AL regimen by weight twice a day for 3 days. Clinical and parasitological parameters were monitored during 28 days of follow-up to evaluate the drug efficacy and safety.

RESULTS: A total of 653 children were screened for uncomplicated malaria and 349 (53.7%) were enrolled between April and August 2018. Of the enrolled children, 345 (98.9%) completed the 28 days of follow-up or attained the treatment outcomes. There were no early treatment failures, but recurrent infections were higher in Mkuzi (35.2%) and Ujiji (23%). By Kaplan-Meier analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) uncorrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) ranged from 63.4% in Mkuzi to 85.9% in Mlimba, while PCR-corrected ACPR on day 28 varied from 97.6% in Ujiji to 100% in Mlimba. The drug was well tolerated; the commonly reported adverse events were cough, runny nose, and abdominal pain. No serious adverse event was reported.

CONCLUSION: This study showed that AL had adequate efficacy and safety for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The high number of recurrent infections were mainly due to new infections, indicating the necessity of utilizing alternative artemisinin-based combinations, such as artesunate amodiaquine, which provide a significantly longer post-treatment prophylactic effect.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:23

Enthalten in:

Malaria journal - 23(2024), 1 vom: 06. Apr., Seite 95

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Ngasala, Billy [VerfasserIn]
Chiduo, Mercy G [VerfasserIn]
Bushukatale, Samwel [VerfasserIn]
Mmbando, Bruno P [VerfasserIn]
Makene, Twilumba [VerfasserIn]
Kamugisha, Erasmus [VerfasserIn]
Ahmed, Maimuna [VerfasserIn]
Mandara, Celine I [VerfasserIn]
Francis, Filbert [VerfasserIn]
Mahende, Muhidin K [VerfasserIn]
Kavishe, Reginald A [VerfasserIn]
Muro, Florida [VerfasserIn]
Ishengoma, Deus S [VerfasserIn]
Mandike, Renata [VerfasserIn]
Molteni, Fabrizio [VerfasserIn]
Chacky, Frank [VerfasserIn]
Kitojo, Chonge [VerfasserIn]
Greer, George [VerfasserIn]
Bishanga, Dunstan [VerfasserIn]
Chadewa, Jasmine [VerfasserIn]
Njau, Ritha [VerfasserIn]
Warsame, Marian [VerfasserIn]
Kabula, Bilali [VerfasserIn]
Nyinondi, Ssanyu S [VerfasserIn]
Reaves, Erik [VerfasserIn]
Mohamed, Ally [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

220236ED28
Amodiaquine
Antimalarials
Artemether
Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination
Artemether lumefantrine
Artemisinins
C7D6T3H22J
Drug Combinations
Ethanolamines
Journal Article
Malaria
Plasmodium falciparum
Therapeutic efficacy

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 08.04.2024

Date Revised 25.04.2024

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1186/s12936-024-04926-x

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM370722388