Chemosuppression of malaria by the triple combination mefloquine/ sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine: a field trial in an endemic area in Malaysia

Abstract

Malaria, particularly that due to chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, which requires management with antimalarial drugs capable of protecting against multiresistant strains, has emerged in Malaysia. A study was carried out to assess the efficacy and tolerability of 2 dosages of mefloquine/sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (MSP; RO 13-5112) compared to Fansidar in a malaria endemic area. 914 subjects in 3 random groups were studied. Occurrence of malaria was assessed both clinically as well as by blood films. Plasma drug levels were also measured. The results showed that the low dose of MSP was completely effective in suppressing parasitaemia. 2.7% of the study population reported adverse drug reactions, the lowest incidence being in subjects on the low dose; their blood chemical profiles were also the least affected. The plasma levels of pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine achieved in the low dose group were slightly higher than expected, but there was no significant difference in bioavailability. The study showed that, for chemoprophylaxis, a low dose of MSP provided effective protection with minimal side effects.

Dermatological adverse effects with the antimalarial drug mefloquine: a review of 74 published case reports

“…These reports were contained in 20 separate scientific papers, the first of which was published in 1983, and the most recent in 1997. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Two of the papers were in French and the remainder were in English. We did not find any case reports published in 1998.…”