Therapeutic efficacy and effects of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine coformulated or copackaged on malaria-associated anemia in children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Southwest Nigeria

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 May;84(5):813-9. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0582.

Abstract

The therapeutic efficacy and effects of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and artesunate-amodiaquine co-formulated (AAcf) or co-packaged (AAcp) on malaria-associated anemia (MAA) were evaluated in 285 children < 12 years of age with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria randomized to receive one of the three drug combinations. Fever and parasite clearance times were similar in all treatment groups. Mean drug-attributable fall in hematocrit (DAFH), defined as difference between hematocrit values pre- and 3 d post-initiation of treatment, was low (< 4.5%) and rates of recovery from MAA were similar with all treatments. Mean areas under curve (AUCs) of the plot of deficit in hematocrit levels from 30% versus time in anemic children were similar in all groups. All regimens were well tolerated. AL, AAcf and AAcp cleared fever and parasitemia rapidly and had similar rates of resolution of MAA after treatment in malarious Nigerian children.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Amodiaquine / pharmacokinetics
  • Amodiaquine / therapeutic use*
  • Anemia / drug therapy*
  • Anemia / etiology
  • Antimalarials / pharmacokinetics
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Area Under Curve
  • Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination
  • Artemisinins / pharmacokinetics
  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Combinations
  • Ethanolamines / pharmacokinetics
  • Ethanolamines / therapeutic use*
  • Fluorenes / pharmacokinetics
  • Fluorenes / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / complications
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy*
  • Nigeria
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination
  • Artemisinins
  • Drug Combinations
  • Ethanolamines
  • Fluorenes
  • amodiaquine, artesunate drug combination
  • Amodiaquine