BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum resistance has rendered chloroquine monotherapy ineffective in much of Africa, but data on alternative regimens are limited. We compared chloroquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, and amodiaquine+artesunate for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: Of 1017 consecutive patients aged 6 months to 10 years with uncomplicated malaria who were screened, 418 were randomised to receive: chloroquine (25 mg/kg over 3 days) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (25 mg/kg sulfadoxine, 1.25 mg/kg pyrimethamine, single dose); amodiaquine (25 mg/kg over 3 days) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine; or amodiaquine and artesunate (4 mg/kg daily for 3 days). Primary efficacy outcomes were 28-day clinical failure risks, adjusted and unadjusted by genotyping to distinguish new infection and recrudescence. The primary safety endpoint was incidence of serious adverse events during follow-up. Analysis was intention to treat and per protocol. FINDINGS:18 patients were excluded before enrollment. Of those enrolled, 384 of 400 (96%) were assigned an efficacy outcome and 396 (99%) were assessed for safety. Risk of 28-day clinical treatment failure was significantly higher with chloroquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (44/125 [35%]) than with amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (12/129 [9%]; risk difference 26% [95% CI 16-36]; p<0.0001) or amodiaquine+artesunate (3/130 [2%]; 33% [24-42]; p<0.0001). The greater risk of clinical treatment failure with amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine was balanced by a lower risk of new infection, resulting in a similar need for retreatment over 28 days for amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (17/129 [13%]) and amodiaquine+artesunate (16/130 [12%]; p=0.854). Serious adverse events were uncommon with all regimens. INTERPRETATION: Risk of treatment failure with chloroquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine was unacceptably high. Combinations of amodiaquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine or artesunate were significantly more efficacious, and each regimen could be an appropriate alternative for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Africa.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Plasmodium falciparum resistance has rendered chloroquine monotherapy ineffective in much of Africa, but data on alternative regimens are limited. We compared chloroquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, and amodiaquine+artesunate for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: Of 1017 consecutive patients aged 6 months to 10 years with uncomplicated malaria who were screened, 418 were randomised to receive: chloroquine (25 mg/kg over 3 days) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (25 mg/kg sulfadoxine, 1.25 mg/kg pyrimethamine, single dose); amodiaquine (25 mg/kg over 3 days) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine; or amodiaquine and artesunate (4 mg/kg daily for 3 days). Primary efficacy outcomes were 28-day clinical failure risks, adjusted and unadjusted by genotyping to distinguish new infection and recrudescence. The primary safety endpoint was incidence of serious adverse events during follow-up. Analysis was intention to treat and per protocol. FINDINGS: 18 patients were excluded before enrollment. Of those enrolled, 384 of 400 (96%) were assigned an efficacy outcome and 396 (99%) were assessed for safety. Risk of 28-day clinical treatment failure was significantly higher with chloroquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (44/125 [35%]) than with amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (12/129 [9%]; risk difference 26% [95% CI 16-36]; p<0.0001) or amodiaquine+artesunate (3/130 [2%]; 33% [24-42]; p<0.0001). The greater risk of clinical treatment failure with amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine was balanced by a lower risk of new infection, resulting in a similar need for retreatment over 28 days for amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (17/129 [13%]) and amodiaquine+artesunate (16/130 [12%]; p=0.854). Serious adverse events were uncommon with all regimens. INTERPRETATION: Risk of treatment failure with chloroquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine was unacceptably high. Combinations of amodiaquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine or artesunate were significantly more efficacious, and each regimen could be an appropriate alternative for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Africa.
Authors: Grace Malenga; Ayo Palmer; Sarah Staedke; Walter Kazadi; Theonest Mutabingwa; Evelyn Ansah; Karen I Barnes; Christopher J M Whitty Journal: BMJ Date: 2005-10-01
Authors: Samuel L Nsobya; Christian Dokomajilar; Moses Joloba; Grant Dorsey; Philip J Rosenthal Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2007-06-11 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: Theonest K Mutabingwa; Kandi Muze; Rosalynn Ord; Marnie Briceño; Brian M Greenwood; Chris Drakeley; Christopher J M Whitty Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-04-08 Impact factor: 3.240