Plasmodicidal effect of desferrioxamine B in human vivax or falciparum malaria from Thailand.

Desferrioxamine B (DFO, Desferal), an iron chelator, was earlier shown to be active against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and in vivo. The present open pilot study served to assess its clinical tolerability and efficacy in human malaria under hospital conditions. Continuous intravenous DFO was administered to 28 Thai males at a dose of 100 mg/kg over 24 h for 3 consecutive days.