A COMPARISON OF 3 DIFFERENT DIHYDROARTEMISININ FORMULATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE UNCOMPLICATED FALCIPARUM-MALARIA IN THAILAND

We compared the safety and efficacy of three formulations of dihydroar temisinin for the treatment of acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria in patients who received a total dose of 600 mg dihydroartemisinin ove r 5 days. The first group was treated by dihydroartemisinin produced a nd formulated in the People's Republic of China, the second group was treated by dihydroartemisinin produced in Vietnam but formulated by th e Government Pharmaceutical Organization of Thailand and the third gro up was treated by dihydroartemisinin produced and formulated by the Go vernment Pharmaceutical Organization of Thailand. AU patients were adm itted to hospital to evaluate safety and efficacy for a total of 28 da ys. By the third day of treatment, most patients were blood-smear nega tive for parasites and none had serious adverse effects. Minor symptom s such as nausea, dizziness and headache were similar in the three gro ups and disappeared after 3 days of treatment. One-hundred and thirty- three patients completed the 28-day followup period. The cure rates of groups I, II and III were 80%, 85% and 92%, respectively (P > 0.02). There were no significant differences in fever clearance or parasite c learance among the three groups. We conclude that the three formulatio ns of dihydroartemisinin produced and formulated in different countrie s were safe and effective in treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria acquired in Thailand. (C) 1998 Australian Society for Parasitology. P ublished by Elsevier Science Ltd.