HALOFANTRINE PHARMACOKINETICS IN KENYAN CHILDREN WITH NON-SEVERE AND SEVERE MALARIA

1 Kenyan children with uncomplicated malaria given oral halofantrine ( HF; nonmicronised suspension; 8 mg base kg(-1) body weight 6 hourly fo r three doses) showed wide variation in the disposition of HF and desb utylhalofantrine (HFm). 2 Eight Kenyan children with severe (prostrate ) falciparum malaria who were receiving intravenous quinine, were give n the same HF regimen by nasogastric tube. One patient had undetectabl e HF and two had undetectable HFm at all times after drug administrati on. 3 The mean AUC(0,24 h) of HF in prostrate children was half (7.54 compared with 13.10 mu g ml(-1) h) (P = 0.06), and that for HFm one-th ird (0.84 compared with 2.51 mu g ml(-1) h) (P < 0.05) of the value in children with uncomplicated malaria. 4 Oral HF may be appropriate for some cases of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Africa, but in pati ents with severe malaria, the bioavailability of HF and HFm may be ina dequate.