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Efficacy of Artesunate-Mefloquine Combination Therapy in Trat Province, Thailand

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT01659281
Lead Sponsor
Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Thailand
Brief Summary

The main purpose of this study is to compare artesunate-mefloquine combination therapy given for 2 and 3 days at the same total dose for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

Detailed Description

This will be a randomized, open-label comparison of two versus three days artesunate-mefloquine treatment in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Primary endpoints will be 63-day parasitological cure rates in the 2 treatment groups. Secondary endpoints will be parasitological failure rates at each of the weekly follow-up visits to Day 56, occurence of treatment-emergent adverse events on days 0, 1 and 2, mefloquine blood concentrations on days 7, 14 and 28, and in vitro drug sensitivity profiles for parasite isolates as measured by inhibitory concentrations. Genotyping of parasites for known markers of drug resistence will be performed.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
13
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Age 5 to 70 years inclusive. If aged < 18 years the subject must have a parent or guardian in attendance.
  2. Asexual stages of P. falciparum parasites in a thick or thin blood film with no other visible plasmodial species.
  3. Willing to give informed consent. Parents or guardians of children and adolescents must agree to give informed consent. Assent is necessary in addition to parental informed consent.
  4. Able to tolerate oral therapy.
  5. Willing to attend follow-up appointments and undergo study procedures.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. History of anti-malarial drug use within the past two weeks or mefloquine (MQ) use within 4 weeks.
  2. Bleeding tendency (by history or based on medical records).
  3. Severe/complicated malaria as determined by the investigator (coma or seizures, pulmonary edema, shock, renal failure, jaundice, severe anemia, spontaneous bleeding, hyperparasitemia (>5% RBCs infected), or prostration).
  4. History of allergy to or intolerance of study medications.
  5. Mixed malaria infection by Giemsa stain.
  6. Any other condition that in the opinion of the study investigator warrants parenteral antimalarial treatment.
  7. Pregnant woman or nursing mother

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
2Mefloquine3 days oral treatment with: Artesunate 4 mg/kg/day for 3 days Mefloquine 8 mg/kg/day for 3 days Primaquine 0.5 mg/kg single dose at 24 hours
1Artesunate2-day oral treatment with: Artesunate 6mg/kg at 0 and 24 hours Mefloquine 25 mg/kg total dose split into 2 doses of 15 mg/kg at 0 hours and and 10 mg/kg given 6-24 hours later Primaquine 0.5 mg/kg single dose at 24 hours
2Artesunate3 days oral treatment with: Artesunate 4 mg/kg/day for 3 days Mefloquine 8 mg/kg/day for 3 days Primaquine 0.5 mg/kg single dose at 24 hours
1Mefloquine2-day oral treatment with: Artesunate 6mg/kg at 0 and 24 hours Mefloquine 25 mg/kg total dose split into 2 doses of 15 mg/kg at 0 hours and and 10 mg/kg given 6-24 hours later Primaquine 0.5 mg/kg single dose at 24 hours
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Determination of parasitological cure rate of directly observed antimalarial therapy63 days from initiation of treatment
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Parasitological cure ratesWeekly to Day 56
Occurence of treatment-emergent adverse events3 days
In vitro drug sensitivity profile for individual parasite isolatesBaseline
Mefloquine whole blood concentrations28 days

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Vector Borne Diseases Control Units (VBDC, malaria clinics)

🇹🇭

Borai, Khaosaming and Muang districts, Trat, Thailand

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