Halofantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria with a three-dose regimen in Papua New Guinea: a preliminary report
- Author:
F. W. Hombhanje
;
R. K. Kereu
;
P. Bulungol
;
R. Paika
- Publication Type:Clinical Trial
- MeSH:
Antimalarials - administration & dosage;
Antimalarials - therapeutic use;
Electrocardiography;
Malaria, Falciparum - blood
- From:
Papua New Guinea medical journal
1998;41(1):23-29
- CountryPapua New Guinea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
We evaluated the efficacy and safety of halofantrine in 19 patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Each patient received oral halofantrine hydrochloride 500 mg every 6 hours for 3 doses (total 1.5 g). In almost all the patients clinical symptoms of malaria and parasitaemia disappeared within 2 and 3 days, respectively, of starting treatment. We observed no recurrence of parasitaemia during 14 days of follow-up. Tolerance to halofantrine was good except for minor and self-limiting gastrointestinal side-effects. Haematological and biochemical indices were not seriously affected. Halofantrine-induced prolongation of Q-T/Q-Tc intervals was the consistent cardiac manifestation in 84% of patients. The Q-T/Q-Tc interval prolongation increased with each dose; it reached a maximum between 18 and 24 hours and thereafter returned to baseline. These preliminary data indicate that, apart from the cardiac side-effects, halofantrine is an effective and safe drug, well tolerated by most of the patients in the study.
PIP: The authors evaluated the efficacy and safety of halofantrine in 19 patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Each patient received oral halofantrine hydrochloride 500 mg every 6 hours, for a total of 3 doses (total 1.5 g). In almost all the patients clinical symptoms of malaria and parasitemia disappeared within 2 and 3 days, respectively, of starting treatment. They observed no recurrence of parasitemia during 14 days of follow-up. Tolerance to halofantrine was good except for minor and self-limiting gastrointestinal side effects. Hematological and biochemical indices were not seriously affected. Halofantrine-induced prolongation of Q-T/Q-Tc intervals was the consistent cardiac manifestation in 84% of patients. The Q-T/Q-Tc interval prolongation increased with each dose; it reached a maximum between 18 and 24 hours and thereafter returned to baseline. These preliminary data indicate that, apart from the cardiac side effects, halofantrine is an effective and safe drug, well tolerated by most of the patients in the study.
