Objective: The present in in vivo study evaluates the potential use of keto
tifen, a tricyclic antihistaminic drug, in treatment of Sudanese patients w
ith uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria ( 19-38 years).
Methods: Four groups of patients (each has 15) were randomly selected and t
reated by chloroquine (25mg/kg wt) in comparison with regimen combinations
of ketotifen (0.13mg/kg body wt) with chloroquine, ketotifen with Fansidar
(33.3mg/kg body wt) and ketotifen with both chloroquine and Fansidar.
Results: Prior to treatment all patients had a parasite density that varied
from 1x10(3)-3.46x10(4)/mu L blood. On day 2, the highest level of parasit
aemia was recorded in patients treated with chloroquine only. Other patient
s had a significantly lower parasitaemia (P<0.05) with an average range of
111-243 parasites/300 leucocytes. On day 3 no parasites were detected in gr
oups treated by ketotifen and Fansidar or by ketotifen in combination with
Fansidar and chloroquine. The mean time of parasite clearance was minimum (
<32 h) amongst patients that had choloroquine administered with ketotifen a
lone or with both Fansidar and ketotifen. The cumulative percentage of case
s with recrudescence was >39% in groups that had the chloroquine regimen al
one or the combination of chloroquine with ketotifen. A single case of recr
udescence was also diagnosed on day 28 in the group treated with ketotifen
plus fansidar but no recrudescence occurred in the group treated with the c
ombination of the three drugs.
Conclusion: This study indicates the possible role of ketotifen in treatmen
t for falciparum malaria particularly when administered in combination with
chloroquine and fansidar.