Current advances in research on adjuvant therapy for cerebral malaria
10.16438/j.0513-4870.2019-0677
- VernacularTitle:脑型疟辅助治疗研究进展
- Author:
Xiao-hui JIANG
1
,
2
;
Zhong-yuan ZHENG
1
,
2
;
Hui LIU
1
,
2
;
Ting YANG
1
,
2
;
Shui-qing QU
1
,
2
;
Yu-jie LI
1
,
2
;
Li-na CHEN
1
,
2
Author Information
1. Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
2. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
- Publication Type:Research Article
- Keywords:
cerebral malaria;
pathogenesis;
neurological sequelae;
adjuvant therapy;
new strategy
- From:
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica
2020;55(2):208-217
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Cerebral malaria (CM) is the deadliest complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection and even with effective anti-malarial treatment the mortality of children can be as high as 18%; up to one-third of CM survivors are left with neurological and cognitive deficits. The pathophysiology of CM is not completely understood, but mechanical obstruction and immunopathology are its mainstream theories. Adjuvant therapy aims to improve clinical outcomes and/or reduce mortality, as well as preventing long-term neurocognitive deficits. Improving survival and reducing neurological damage to survivors are new goals for new antimalarials and adjuvant therapies. Herein, we discussed what is known about the disease mechanism of CM and systematically summarize the progress of adjuvant therapy research in protecting the vascular endothelium, reducing adhesion formation, regulating immune balance, interfering with malarial metabolism, protecting nerves, improving nitric oxide bioavailability, improving energy metabolism and alleviating inflammation, with the aim of exploiting this understanding to reduce the neurological damage to children with CM. This work also highlights some preclinical studies which may be candidate strategies in future clinical trials.
