Doses of chloroquine in the treatment of malaria by Plasmodium vivax in patients between 2 and 14 years of age from the Brazilian Amazon basin.

Background: A total dose of chloroquine of 25 mg/kg is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat malaria by Plasmodium vivax. In several endemic areas, including the Brazilian Amazon basin, anti-malarial drugs are dispensed in small plastic bags at a dosing regimen based on age. This practice can lead to suboptimal dosing of the drug, which can impact treatment outcomes.

Association of Lipid Levels with Mefloquine and Carboxy-Mefloquine Concentrations in Patients with Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria.

Mefloquine shows a high capacity to bind plasma proteins, which influences the amount of drug in erythrocytes. The study investigated the association of lipids levels with plasma concentrations of mefloquine and carboxy-mefloquine in 85 Brazilian patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. There were no significant associations between the total cholesterol or triglycerides with plasma concentrations of mefloquine and of carboxy-mefloquine.

Pharmacokinetics of mefloquine administered with artesunate in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria from the Brazilian Amazon basin.

Background: A fixed-dose combination of mefloquine with artesunate was evaluated in cases of falciparum malaria in the Brazilian Amazon basin with acceptable efficacy, safety and tolerability. However, there are no data on the pharmacokinetics of mefloquine in this coformulation in Brazil, which is valuable to evaluate whether Plasmodium is exposed to an effective concentration of the drug.

Methods: A prospective, single-arm study was conducted in male patients with slide-confirmed infection by Plasmodium falciparum using two tablets of a fixed-dose combination of artesunate (100 mg) and mefloquine base (200 mg) once daily and over 3 consecutive days.

Primaquine in Plasma and Methemoglobinemia in Patients with Malaria Due to in the Brazilian Amazon Basin.

AbstractPrimaquine is the only licensed drug available for the elimination of hypnozoites. Methemoglobinemia is currently reported in the course of treatment. There is evidence that metabolites of primaquine formed by the cytochrome pathway are responsible for methemoglobin formation; a genetic polymorphism of cytochrome isoforms; and a potential influence of gender in the activities of these enzymes requiring the establishment of dose × response curves profiles in different population groups.

Patient age does not affect mefloquine concentrations in erythrocytes and plasma during the acute phase of falciparum malaria.

Objective: To evaluate whether patient age has a significant impact on mefloquine concentrations in the plasma and erythrocytes over the course of treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

Methods: A total of 20 children aged between 8 and 11 years and 20 adult males aged between 22 and 41 years with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were enrolled in the study. Mefloquine was administered to patients in both age groups at a dose of 20mgkg(-1).

Dapsone and body mass index in subjects with multibacillary leprosy.

Background: The physiological changes in obese subjects can modify the pharmacokinetic profiles of drugs influencing the therapeutic efficacy.

Methods: In this study, the authors compare plasma dapsone trough levels of multibacillary leprosy subjects stratified by body mass index (BMI) to evaluate if obesity plays a significant role on drug levels. The relationship between drug levels and BMI was also determined.