Artemether-Lumefantrine Combination for Non-Comorbid Falciparum Malaria: A Clinico-Parasitological Efficacy Study

Abstract

With the emergence of chloroquine resistance, Artemisinin Combination Therapy use was advocated for by the WHO and this has been fully adopted by Nigeria for treating malaria due to P. falciparum infection. The present study focused on assessing the clinico-parasitological efficacy of Artemether-Lumefantrine, following the need to monitor the efficacy of ACTs as a tool for early detection of resistance. The WHO 2009 protocols for studying the efficacy of antimalarial agents were adopted. The study enrolled 75 adult patients living within Anambra state, diagnosed with falciparum malaria and met the inclusion criteria of the study. Patients were administered 6 doses of Artemether-Lumefantrine and monitored for 28days for any therapy failure or adverse events. Early treatment failure of 15.95% was recorded. Although ACPR, cure rate and parasite clearance were above 70% (76.8%, 97.10% and 80.4% respectively). The study also showed clearance of asexual stage (gametocytes) by day 3 of treatment. There was a satisfactory efficacy and safety of AL thus supporting the continued use of AL as the drug of choice for non-complicated malaria in the studied population.