L. Delnero et al., IN-VIVO SENSITIVITY OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM TO HALOFANTRINE HYDROCHLORIDE IN BURKINA-FASO, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 50(1), 1994, pp. 102-106
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Tropical Medicine
Plasmodium falciparum susceptibility to halofantrine hydrochloride was
investigated in a small village near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where
the parasite was known to be chloroquine resistant. An in vivo test w
as carried out in July 1992 at the beginning of the rainy season in ch
ildren ranging in age from two to eight years with P. falciparum monos
pecific infections, asexual parasitemia greater than 800/mu l of blood
, and a negative result on a Bergqvist urine test for 4-aminoquinoline
s. Among 206 children screened, 74 were selected for study. Blood samp
les were collected on days 0, 2, 4, 7 and 14, and 100 microscopic fiel
ds of thick and thin blood smears were examined for parasite density a
nd species identification. Halofantrine hydrochloride was administered
under supervision at the standard dose of 24 mg/kg as 8 mg/kg given t
hree times at 6-hr intervals with an observation period of 1 hr after
each 8-mg/kg dose. Parasitemias cleared in all 74 cases by day 7, but
there was a recurrence of parasitemia in six subjects (8.1%) on day 14
. A second course of therapy with halofantrine resulted in prompt clea
rance of parasitemias in all of these children. The drug was well-tole
rated and the hematologic and biochemical indices were not adversely a
ffected by treatment.