Single Low Dose Primaquine (0.25 mg/kg) Does Not Cause Clinically Significant Haemolysis in G6PD Deficient Subjects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Primaquine is the only drug consistently effective against mature gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum. The transmission blocking dose of primaquine previously recommended was 0.75 mg/kg (adult dose 45 mg) but its deployment was limited because of concerns over haemolytic effects in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. G6PD deficiency is an inherited X-linked enzymatic defect that affects an estimated 400 million people around the world with high frequencies (15-20%) in populations living in malarious areas. To reduce transmission in low transmission settings and facilitate elimination of P. falciparum, the World Health Organization now recommends adding a single dose of 0.25 mg/kg (adult dose 15 mg) to Artemisinin-based Combination Therapie

SUBMITTER: Bancone G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4807095 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature