Eighteen day old neonate presented with features of early neonatal sepsis. History of mother revealed a travel from non-endemic area of malaria to endemic area, and on the 7th gestational age mother detected as having malaria. She was treated with quinine and cured. Baby was also evaluated for congenital malaria in first few neonatal days and discharged. Now the baby on evaluation shows anemia, hepatosplenomegaly and diagnosed with a Plasmodium vivax infection on peripheral smear. The quinine failed to prevent transplacental transmission. Prolonged interval between birth and onset of symptoms may be explained by transmission late in pregnancy or during delivery or by presence of transplacentally acquired maternal antibody (IgG). Mother acquired malarial infection after travel to an endemic area and transmitted to the baby. A high level of suspicion is warranted in babies of malaria infected mothers even when the neonate peripheral smear shows no evidence of infection.
Antimalarials/therapeutic use ; Chloroquine/therapeutic use ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Malaria, Vivax/*congenital ; Malaria, Vivax/*epidemiology

A 7-day in vivo test system was applied to assess the parasitological response to chloroquine treatment in patients with falciparum malaria in the Central Province and National Capital District of Papua New Guinea. 30 patients were investigated but only 23 took a full course of chloroquine and were completely followed up. Of the 23 patients, 13 (57%) were negative for malaria parasites on day 2, 4 (17%) had significantly reduced parasitaemia by day 2 and cleared parasites by day 7, and 1 (4%) showed a partial response (R2). In 5 (22%) of the patients resistance at the R3 level was observed. The indication from this study is that chloroquine should continue to be the first-line drug for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. However, judicious use of chloroquine in uncomplicated falciparum malaria is required to halt the spread of chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum.
Antimalarials - therapeutic use ; Chloroquine - therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance ; Malaria, Falciparum - drug therapy ; Malaria, Falciparum - parasitology

INTRODUCTIONChloroquine, in combination with primaquine, is used as the firstline treatment for uncomplicated P. vivax malaria in Thailand. In view of the declining efficacy of chloroquine in many P. vivax endemic areas, the possibility of emergence of chloroquine- resistant P. vivax in Thailand is a concern. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine and primaquine for the treatment of uncomplicated P. vivax malaria and to assess the utility of parasite clearance times as a measure of efficacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis study consisted of: 1) review of medical records of patients who were hospitalised for a period during their treatment for uncomplicated P. vivax malaria at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok, Thailand between 2004 and 2013. Treatment consisted of chloroquine (1500 mg base administered over 3 days) or chloroquine (as before) plus primaquine (15 to 30 mg base/daily for 14 days from day 2); and 2) systematic review of the literature in English to assess current standards in the reporting of parasite clearance times.

RESULTSThe 28-day cure rate was 99.1%. The range of median parasite clearance time over the 10-year period was 46 to 59 hours, and there was statistical evidence for an increasing trend in parasite clearance times between 2009 and 2013. Heterogeneity was noted among previous chloroquine efficacy studies in the measurement and reporting of parasite clearance.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment of P. vivax infection with a combination of chloroquine and primaquine has remained efficacious in Thailand. Increasing rates of parasite clearance in a population over time may be a useful early warning mechanism for the emergence of chloroquine resistance. The utility of monitoring time-trends in parasite clearance to detect resistance may be enhanced if parasite clearance measurements are standardised.

Antimalarials ; therapeutic use ; Chloroquine ; therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Malaria, Vivax ; drug therapy ; Plasmodium vivax ; Primaquine ; therapeutic use ; Thailand ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of the present study was to investigate antimalarial drug pressure resulting from the clinical use of different antimalarials in Thailand. The phenotypic diversity of the susceptibility profiles of antimalarials, i.e., chloroquine (CQ), quinine (QN), mefloquine (MQ), and artesunate (ARS) in Plasmodium falciparum isolates collected during the period from 1988 to 2003 were studied. P. falciparum isolates from infected patients were collected from the Thai-Cambodian border area at different time periods (1988-1989, 1991-1992, and 2003), during which 3 different patterns of drug use had been implemented: MQ + sulphadoxine (S) + pyrimethamine (P), MQ alone and MQ + ARS, respectively. The in vitro drug susceptibilities were investigated using a method based on the incorporation of [3H] hypoxanthine. A total of 50 isolates were tested for susceptibilities to CQ, QN, MQ, and ARS. Of these isolates, 19, 16, and 15 were adapted during the periods 1988-1989, 1991-1993, and 2003, respectively. P. falciparum isolates collected during the 3 periods were resistant to CQ. Sensitivities to MQ declined from 1988 to 2003. In contrast, the parasite was sensitive to QN, and similar sensitivity profile patterns were observed during the 3 time periods. There was a significantly positive but weak correlation between the IC50 values of CQ and QN, as well as between the IC50 values of QN and MQ. Drug pressure has impact on sensitivity of P. falciparum to MQ. A combination therapy of MQ and ARS is being applied to reduce the parasite resistance, and also increasing the efficacy of the drug.
Animals ; Antimalarials/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Artemisinins/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Chloroquine/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Drug Resistance ; Humans ; Malaria/drug therapy/*parasitology ; Mefloquine/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests/methods ; Plasmodium falciparum/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Quinine/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Thailand

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of PMC therapy (Prednisone, Methotrexate, Chloroquine) combined Langchuang Fuzheng Jiedu Capsule (LFJC), thus choosing a better therapy of integrative medicine for SLE in the period of glucocorticoid use.

METHODSSixty active SLE patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the control group and the treatment group. Those in the control group received PMC therapy (As for Prednisone, it was given at the daily dose of 1 mg/kg till 2 weeks after the condition being stable or after 8 weeks of treatment. Then the dose was reduced by 10% every two weeks. When the dose was reduced to 0.5 mg/kg daily, it was reduced by 2.5 mg per two weeks. When the dose was reduced to 15 mg daily, the dose was reduced to 2.5 mg per four weeks. As for Methotrexate, 10 mg each time, once a week. As for Chloroquine, 100 mg each time, twice daily), while those in the treatment group received PMC therapy (the same way as that for the control group) combined with LFJC (consisting of Astragalus membranaceus 50 g, Angelica sinensis 20 g, Ligusticum Chuanxiong 20 g, prepared Rehmannia Rhizome 30 g, Herba Serissae 30 g, Centella 30 g, centipede 4 g, scorpions 10 g, nidus versace 12 g, et al., 0.5 g per pill, containing 5.7 g crude drug. When the hormone was given at a large dose, LFJC was administered at 12 pills each time, three times daily). When the hormone was given at a middle dose, LFJC was administered at 8 pills each time, three times daily. When the hormone was given at a small dose, LFJC was administered at 6 pills each time, three times daily. The treatment course was six months. The improvement of symptoms and signs between before and after treatment, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), efficacy of Chinese medical syndrome, UPro quantitation, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complement 3 (C3), C-reactive protein (CRP), the reduction and withdrawal of hormones, and infection of the respiratory tract were observed.

RESULTSThe difference in post-SLEDAI was obviously larger in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The fatigue severity scale (FSS) was less after treatment than before treatment in the treatment group, showing statistical difference when compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 93.33% in the treatment group, showing statistical difference when compared with that of the control group (86.66%; chi2 = 6.736, P < 0.05). The ESR decreased after treatment in the treatment group, showing statistical difference when compared with that of the control group (P < 0.01). C3 increased after treatment in the treatment group, showing statistical difference when compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05). The hormone was reduced to (13.70 +/- 5.42) mg/d by the end of the therapeutic course in the treatment group, obviously less than that of the control group [(17.63 +/- 7.80) mg/d, P < 0.05). Seven patients suffered from secondary infection of the respiratory tract infection in the treatment group (5 from upper respiratory tract infection and 2 from lower respiratory tract infection), obviously less than those of the control group (25 from upper respiratory tract infection and 10 from lower respiratory tract infection) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPMC combined LFJC was a better treatment program for severe active SLE (SLEDAI > or = 15). It was more safe and effective when compared with using Western medicine alone. It could enhance the efficacy of hormones and help reduction/withdrawal of hormones.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Chloroquine ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; drug therapy ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

We conducted a study to compare the safety and tolerability of anti-relapse drugs elubaquine and primaquine against Plasmodium vivax malaria. After standard therapy with chloroquine, 30 mg/kg given over 3 days, 141 patients with P. vivax infection were randomized to receive primaquine or elubaquine. The 2 treatment regimens were primaquine 30 mg once daily for 7 days (group A, n = 71), and elubaquine 25 mg once daily for 7 days (group B, n = 70). All patients cleared parasitemia within 7 days after chloroquine treatment. Among patients treated with primaquine, one patient relapsed on day 26; no relapse occurred with elubaquine treatement. Both drugs were well tolerated. Adverse effects occurred only in patients with G6PD deficiency who were treated with primaquine (group A, n = 4), whose mean hematocrit fell significantly on days 7, 8 and 9 (P = 0.015, 0.027, and 0.048, respectively). No significant change in hematocrit was observed in patients with G6PD deficiency who were treated with elubaquine (group B, n = 3) or in patients with normal G6PD. In conclusion, elubaquine, as anti-relapse therapy for P. vivax malaria, was as safe and well tolerated as primaquine and did not cause clinically significant hemolysis.
Thailand ; Prospective Studies ; Primaquine/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; *Plasmodium vivax ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Malaria, Vivax/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Female ; Chloroquine/therapeutic use ; Antimalarials/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Adult ; Adolescent

In Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale malaria, some of the liver stage parasites remain dormant. The activation of these dormant forms (called hypnozoite) can give rise to relapse weeks, months or years after the initial infection. To prevent relapses, a course of primaquine may be given as terminal prophylaxis to patients. Different strains of Plasmodium vivax vary in their sensitivity to primaquine and, recently, cases of relapse of Plasmodium vivax after this standard primaquine therapy were reported from various countries. We reported a case of primaquine resistant malaria which initially was thought to be relapsed caused by loss of terminal prophylaxis.
Animal ; Antimalarials/therapeutic use* ; Case Report ; Chloroquine/therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance ; Human ; Malaria, Vivax/parasitology ; Malaria, Vivax/drug therapy* ; Male ; Middle Age ; Plasmodium vivax/growth & development ; Plasmodium vivax/drug effects ; Primaquine/therapeutic use* ; Recurrence

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the late 2019, a variety of antiviral drugs have been used in the first-line clinical trial. The Diagnostic and Treatment Protocol for COVID-19 (Trial Version 6) in China recommends chloroquine phosphate for the first time as an anti-coronavirus trial drug. As a classic drug for treatment of malaria and rheumatism, chloroquine phosphate has been used clinically for more than 80 years, and has also shown good results in the treatment of various viral infections. As the plasma drug concentration varies greatly among different races and individuals and due to its narrow treatment window, chloroquine in likely to accumulate in the body to cause toxicity. Among the treatment regimens recommended for COVID-19, reports concerning the safety of a short-term high-dose chloroquine regimen remain scarce. In this review, the authors summarize the current research findings of chloroquine phosphate in the treatment of COVID-19, and examine the pharmacokinetic characteristics, antiviral therapy, the therapeutic mechanism and safety of chloroquine.
Antiviral Agents ; Betacoronavirus ; drug effects ; China ; Chloroquine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy

Chloroquines are the long-established prescription drug, which are often used clinically to treat malaria and connective tissue diseases. Since December 2019, corona virus disease 2019 （COVID-19） outbreaks caused by 2019 novel coronavirus （2019-nCoV） has occurred in China and many countries around the world. Due to the lack of drugs against COVID-19, the disease spreads rapidly and the mortality rate is relatively high. Therefore, specific drugs against 2019-nCoV need to be quickly screened. The antimalarial drug chloroquine phosphate which has already been approved is confirmed to have an anti-2019-nCoV effect and has been included in diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines. However, awareness of the risk of chloroquine phosphate causing acute poisoning or even death should be strengthened. The current dosage recommended in clinical treatment is larger than that in previous treatment of malaria and the period of treatment is longer. Many provinces have required close clinical monitoring of adverse reactions. This paper reviews the pharmacological effects, poisoning and toxicological mechanisms, in vivo metabolism and distribution, and forensic issues of chloroquine drugs, in order to provide help to forensic practice and clinical work.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; China ; Chloroquine/therapeutic use* ; Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy* ; Forensic Toxicology ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment

Chloroquine remains the drug of choice for the treatment of vivax malaria in Thailand. Mixed infections of falciparum and vivax malaria are also common in South-East Asia. Laboratory confirmation of malaria species is not generally available. This study aimed to find alternative regimens for treating both malaria species by using falciparum antimalarial drugs. From June 2004 to May 2005, 98 patients with Plasmodium vivax were randomly treated with either artemether-lumefantrine (n = 47) or chloroquine (n = 51). Both treatments were followed by 15 mg of primaquine over 14 days. Adverse events and clinical and parasitological outcomes were recorded and revealed similar in both groups. The cure rate was 97.4% for the artemether-lumefantrine treated group and 100% for the chloroquine treated group. We concluded that the combination of artemether-lumefantrine and primaquine was well tolerated, as effective as chloroquine and primaquine, and can be an alternative regimen for treatment of vivax malaria especially in the event that a mixed infection of falciparum and vivax malaria could not be ruled out.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Animals ; Antimalarials/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Artemisinins/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Chloroquine/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Ethanolamines/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorenes/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Malaria, Vivax/*drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parasitemia ; Plasmodium vivax/drug effects ; Primaquine/therapeutic use ; Thailand ; Treatment Outcome