Clinical trials of artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Afghanistan: maintained efficacy a decade after introduction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Combination therapy with artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) was adopted as recommended treatment for Plasmodium falciparum infection in Afghanistan in 2003.

Methods

A series of prospective clinical studies examining the efficacy of artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (AS + SP) against P. falciparum were undertaken in sentinel sites in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2014, accompanied by relevant molecular studies. The first study was a randomized trial of AS + SP versus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, while two subsequent studies were standard therapeutic efficacy studies of AS + SP.

Results

Three hundred and three patients were enrolled across four provinces in the north and east of the country. Curative efficacy was high in all the trials, with

SUBMITTER: Awab GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4766631 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature