PARACETAMOL DISPOSITION IN THAI PATIENTS DURING AND AFTER TREATMENT OF FALCIPARUM-MALARIA

Investigations in animals have suggested that conjugation of paracetam ol may be reduced in malaria, We have measured plasma concentrations a nd the urinary excretion of paracetamol and its phase II metabolites i n eight Thai patients during uncomplicated falciparum malaria and in c onvalescence, following a 1000 mg single oral dose. The apparent oral clearance (Malaria, 3.6; Convalescence, 3.9; ml . min(-1) . kg(-1)), t he elimination half-life (Malaria, 3.8; Convalescence, 3.7 h) and appa rent volume of distribution (Malaria, 1.2; Convalescence, 1.2; 1 kg(-1 )) of paracetamol were similar during malaria and convalescence. In ad dition, the urinary excretion of paracetamol and its major phase II me tabolites and their formation clearances from paracetamol were not sig nificantly different between the two study phases. These data show tha t clinical malaria infection has no effect on the conjugation of parac etamol in man.