Efficacy of amodiaquine in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in young children of rural north-western Burkina Faso

Germain Mandi¹ , Frank P Mockenhaupt² , Boubacar Coulibaly¹ , Peter Meissner³ and Olaf Müller³

¹Centre de Recherche en Santé de Nouna, Nouna, Burkina Faso

²Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany

³Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, INF 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

author email corresponding author email

Malaria Journal 2008, 7:58doi:10.1186/1475-2875-7-58


Published:	17 April 2008

Abstract

Background

Combination therapy has become a new paradigm in malaria treatment. Amodiaquine is a common partner drug in different malaria combination therapies used or investigated in sub-Saharan Africa, but data on its efficacy as a single drug are scarce.

Methods

The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of amodiaquine against falciparum malaria in neighbouring rural and urban areas of north-western Burkina Faso. The study was designed as an uncontrolled trial in children aged 6–59 months with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the Nouna Health District.

Results

During the rainy season 2005, 117 children were enrolled, 62 from the rural and 55 from the urban study area. The crude adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) rate was 103/117 (88%) by day 14 but decreased to 28/117 (24%) by day 28. After PCR correction for reinfections, ACPR rates were 108/117 (92%) and 71/117 (61%) by day 14 and day 28, respectively. There were no significant differences in efficacy between urban and rural areas. The Plasmodium falciparum crt K76T mutation not predict AQ failure, but was selected in parasites re-appearing following treatment. No serious adverse events occurred and only 16 other adverse events were recorded.

Conclusion

Compared to chloroquine, amodiaquine is more effective against uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Burkina Faso. However, a considerable degree of amodiaquine resistance already exists and it is currently unclear how this resistance will develop when amodiaquine in combination with other drugs is used on a large scale.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN73824458.