A randomized controlled trial of folate supplementation when treating malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is an antimalarial drug that acts on the folate metabolism of the malaria parasite. We investigated whether folate (FA) supplementation in a high or a low dose affects the efficacy of SP for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in pregnant women.

Design

This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

Setting

The trial was carried out at three hospitals in western Kenya.

Participants

The participants were 488 pregnant women presenting at their first antenatal visit with uncomplicated malaria parasitaemia (density of >or= 500 parasites/microl), a haemoglobin level higher than 7 g/dl, a gestational age between 17 and 34 weeks, and no history of antimalarial or FA use, or sulfa allergy. A total of 415 women

SUBMITTER: Ouma P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1617124 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature