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Chloroquine versus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Savannakhet Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic: an assessment of national antimalarial drug recommendations.

The in vivo efficacies of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) nationally recommended antimalarial agents--chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-were assessed in a randomized, comparative trial that involved 100 patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria who were followed for 42 days after starting treatment. Despite a shorter mean time to fever clearance associated with administration of chloroquine (mean time to clearance, 35.6 h; 95% confidence interval [CI], 26.3-45.0 h), compared with that associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (61.1 h; 95% CI, 50.9-71.3 h; P<.001), treatment failures were twice as frequent among patients receiving chloroquine therapy than among those receiving sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine therapy (36% vs. 18%; P=.02). Of 23 treatment failures, 10 (43%) were high grade. Treatment failure rates among children (age range, 5-15 years) were 4.9 times higher (95% CI, 2-12) than those among adults (P<.0001). Gametocytemia after antimalarial treatment was associated with receipt of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine therapy and with treatment failure (P=.009). The efficacy of both chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Laos is unsatisfactory.

Adolescent↗

Randomized comparison of chloroquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine versus artesunate plus mefloquine versus artemether-lumefantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical trials in the Lao People's Democratic Republic have demonstrated that chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, which are national malaria treatment policy, are no longer effective in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. METHODS: A randomized comparison of 3 oral antimalarial combinations--chloroquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine versus artesunate plus mefloquine versus artemether-lumefantrine--with 42-day follow-up period, was conducted among 330 patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria in southern Laos. RESULTS: The 42-day cure rates, as determined by intention-to-treat analysis and adjusted for reinfection, were 100%, 97%, and 93% for the groups receiving artesunate plus mefloquine, artemether-lumefantrine, and chloroquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, respectively. Of 8 patients receiving chloroquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine who experienced treatment failure, 6 had early treatment failure. The mean parasite clearance time was significantly longer in patients treated with chloroquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (2.9 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-3.0 days) than in those treated with artesunate plus mefloquine (2.07 days; 95% CI, 2.0-2.1 days; P<.001) and artemether-lumefantrine (2.08 days; 95% CI, 2.0-2.1 days; P<.001). Cure rates with artemether-lumefantrine were high despite low mean daily dietary fat intake (13.8 g; 95% CI, 12.5-15.1 g) and day 7 plasma lumefantrine concentrations (0.47 mu g/mL; 95% CI, 0.38-0.56 mu g/mL). CONCLUSION: Oral artesunate plus mefloquine and artemether-lumefantrine are highly effective for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Laos.

Adolescent↗

Mutations in Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase and dihydropteroate synthase and epidemiologic patterns of pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine use and resistance.

To assess the relationship between mutations in Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) and clinical pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine resistance, polymerase chain reaction surveys and analyses for new mutations were conducted in four countries with increasing levels of pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine resistance: Mali, Kenya, Malawi, and Bolivia. Prevalence of mutations at DHFR codon 108 and a new mutation at DHPS 540 correlated with increased pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine resistance (P < .05). Mutations at DHFR 51, DHFR 59, and DHPS 437 correlated with resistance without achieving statistical significance. Mutations at DHFR 164 and DHPS 581 were common in Bolivia, where pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine resistance is widespread, but absent in African sites. Two new DHFR mutations, a point mutation at codon 50 and an insert at codon 30, were found only in Bolivia. DHFR and DHPS mutations occur in a progressive, stepwise fashion. Identification of specific sets of mutations causing in vivo drug failure may lead to the development of molecular surveillance methods for pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine resistance.

Africa↗

The activity of atovaquone (566C80) in murine toxoplasmosis is markedly augmented when used in combination with pyrimethamine or sulfadiazine.

The activity of atovaquone in the treatment of murine toxoplasmosis was greatly enhanced when administered in combination with pyrimethamine or sulfadiazine. Mice infected with lethal inocula of tachyzoites or cysts of Toxoplasma gondii and treated with doses of atovaquone, pyrimethamine, or sulfadiazine that were ineffective when administered alone had 70% survival when pyrimethamine plus atovaquone and 100% survival when sulfadiazine plus atovaquone was used. Of interest, doses of pyrimethamine and, particularly, sulfadiazine far below the doses that would induce any protection in infected mice were active when combined with atovaquone. These results suggest that clinical trials for treatment of toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients using the combination of atovaquone with sulfadiazine or pyrimethamine are justified.

Animals↗

Pyrimethamine for primary prophylaxis of toxoplasmic encephalitis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: a double-blind, randomized trial. ANRS 005-ACTG 154 Group Members. Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA. AIDS Clinical Trial Group.

Pyrimethamine (50 mg) with folinic acid (15 mg) given three times weekly was assessed as primary prophylaxis for toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) in 554 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii and with < 200 CD4 cells/mm3. At 1 year, the incidence of TE was similar in pyrimethamine, 12%, and placebo, 13%, groups (relative risk [RR], 0.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-1.4), and the survival rate was also similar, 85% and 80%, respectively (RR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.7-1.2). Rash was the only adverse event that appeared significantly more frequently in the pyrimethamine arm (7% vs. 1%). In the on-treatment analysis, the incidence of TE was lower in the pyrimethamine arm, 4%, than in the placebo arm, 12% (P < .006). Thus, pyrimethamine cannot be recommended as a first-line regimen for primary prophylaxis of TE if the patient can take cotrimoxazole. However, it should be considered for patients who are intolerant to cotrimoxazole, especially in high-risk patients with < 100 CD4 cells/mm3.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Anti-toxoplasma effect of pyrimethamine, trimethoprim and sulphonamides alone and in combination: implications for therapy.

The aim of the present study was to determine the in-vitro susceptibility of Toxoplasma gondii to dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors and sulphonamides alone, and in combination. It was found that pyrimethamine had the most potent anti-Toxoplasma activity, while sulphadiazine, sulphamethoxazole and sulphametrole were approximately equally effective, but only at a high concentration. The 50% inhibitory concentration of sulphamethoxazole was determined using different fixed concentrations of pyrimethamine or trimethoprim. It was found that a ten-fold increment of the concentration of pyrimethamine, reduced the IC50 of sulphamethoxazole 1000 times. The influence of trimethoprim on the IC50 of sulphamethoxazole was less concentration dependent. Addition of dihydrofolate or tetrahydrofolate did not influence the IC50 of pyrimethamine. In conclusion, the present dose recommendations for sulphonamides, when combined with pyrimethamine, may be unnecessarily high. There may be a justification for dose reduction of sulphonamides in order to prevent side effects.

Animals↗

In vivo dominant lethal effect of pyrimethamine in male mouse germ cells.

Pyrimethamine is used for treatment of malaria and toxoplasmosis. The embryotoxicity and clastogenicity of pyrimethamine is known and our aim was to investigate its dominant lethal effect in vivo. For this purpose, we used three groups of Swiss-albino male mice and a control group. We injected males with doses of 16, 32 or 64 mg/kg pyrimethamine and housed them with 10 females/male for each mating interval. Females were sacrificed and their uteri were evaluated for dominant lethality. As a result of this study we found that pyrimethamine induced dominant lethal mutations in the third, fourth and sixth weeks at the 64 mg/kg dose level, without the effect being dose-dependent. We conclude that pyrimethamine is a suspected germ cell mutagen.

Animals↗

The pharmacokinetics of pyrimethamine in the rat: effect of mefloquine.

The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of pyrimethamine have been determined in the rat. Following administration of pyrimethamine alone, drug concentrations declined biexponentially. By contrast, in the presence of mefloquine, the decline in pyrimethamine concentration more closely fitted a monoexponential pattern and the AUC0-6h for pyrimethamine was significantly reduced. Significantly more pyrimethamine was recovered from the livers but less from the lungs of the mefloquine-dosed rats compared with control. This study outlines a potentially clinically relevant drug interaction.

Animals↗

In vitro and in vivo activities of the hydroxynaphthoquinone atovaquone alone or combined with pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, clarithromycin, or minocycline against Toxoplasma gondii.

The efficacy of atovaquone alone or combined with pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, clarithromycin, and minocycline was examined in vitro and in a murine model of acute toxoplasmosis. In vitro studies were performed with MRC5 fibroblast tissue cultures, with quantification of Toxoplasma growth by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For in vivo studies, mice were acutely infected intraperitoneally with 10(4) tachyzoites of the virulent RH strain and then treated perorally for 10 days from day 1 postinfection. The following drug regimens were investigated: atovaquone at 100 and 50 mg/kg of body weight per day and the combinations of atovaquone at 50 mg/kg with sulfadiazine at 200 mg/kg, pyrimethamine at 12.5 mg/kg, clarithromycin at 200 mg/kg, or minocycline at 50 mg/kg. Efficacy was assessed by determination of survival rates and sequential determination of parasite burdens in blood, brain, and lungs. In vitro, atovaquone inhibited Toxoplasma growth at a concentration of > or = 0.02 mg/liter; the 50% inhibitory concentration was estimated to be 0.023 mg/liter. No synergistic effect was observed when it was combined with sulfadiazine, clarithromycin, or minocycline, whereas a significant antagonistic effect was noted for the combination of atovaquone with pyrimethamine. In vivo, administration of atovaquone at 100 or 50 mg/kg/day for 10 days resulted in prolonged survival compared with that in untreated mice; this survival was associated with a reduction of parasite burdens in blood and tissues during the course of treatment. The combinations of atovaquone with pyrimethamine, clarithromycin, or sulfadiazine were more efficient than each drug administered alone, in terms of survival, but parasite burdens in blood and organs were not reduced compared with those in mice treated with any of the agents alone. These experimental results confirmed the activity of atovaquone against Toxoplasma gondii, but no marked improvement in efficacy was observed in vitro and in vivo when this drug was combined with pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, minocycline, or clarithromycin.

Animals↗

Levels of dapsone and pyrimethamine in serum during once-weekly dosing for prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and toxoplasmic encephalitis.

Concentrations of dapsone, monoacetyldapsone, and pyrimethamine were determined in 36 serum samples from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients on prophylaxis with once-weekly administration of dapsone-pyrimethamine (200 mg of dapsone-75 mg of pyrimethamine). During day 1 after ingestion, median levels of 1,038 ng of dapsone per ml and 356 ng of pyrimethamine per ml were found. During days 6 to 7, the dapsone level fell to < 20 ng/ml in five of nine serum samples, but the pyrimethamine level remained elevated (125 ng/ml). Concurrent, but separately ingested, didanosine administration did not seem to decrease the drug concentrations.

Adult↗

Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi.

We have studied resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (S/P) in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi. A stable S/P-resistant mutant, AS(50S/P), was selected by drug treatment of a clone, AS(PYR), already resistant to pyrimethamine. The sequences of the P. chabaudi dhfr and dhps genes were obtained and found to be identical in AS(50S/P) and AS(PYR), showing that resistance to S/P in AS(50S/P) was not due to additional mutations in either gene. AS(50S/P) was crossed with a drug-sensitive clone, AJ, and 16 independent recombinant progeny were obtained. These clones were phenotyped for their susceptibility to S/P and to sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine separately. Pyrimethamine resistance was invariably associated with S/P resistance, but no correlation was found between resistance to S/P and resistance to sulfadoxine. Quantitative trait locus analysis of the progeny with 31 chromosome-specific markers showed that mutant P. chabaudi dhfr, or one or more genes closely linked to it, was a major determinant of S/P resistance. In addition, the inheritance of genes on chromosomes 5 and 13 from the sensitive parent appeared to contribute to the level of resistance observed. These results demonstrate that the S/P resistance of the AS(50S/P) mutant of P. chabaudi does not involve mutation in dhps and is not due simply to a combination of two genes determining resistance to pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine separately.

Animals↗

Placental transfer of pyrimethamine studied in an ex vivo placental perfusion model.

Pyrimethamine is used as and anti-infectious agent because of its antifolate properties. Its action is synergistic with that of dapsone and sulfamides on Toxoplasma gondii. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the placental transfer of pyrimethamine in an ex vivo model of perfused human placental cotyledon at term. Human placentas were perfused according to the slightly modified method of Schneider. The pyrimethamine fetal transfer rate was approximately 30%, while cotyledon clearance was about 1.8 ml/min. The placental transfer of pyrimethamine seems to be independent of the maternal concentrations of pyrimethamine, suggesting passive diffusion mechanisms or a nonsaturable active transport at the tested concentrations.

Female↗

[Clarithromycin combined with pyrimethamine in cerebral toxoplasmosis--a report of 2 cases].

The authors report the use and the outcome of claritromycin associated with pyrimethamine in the treatment of toxoplasma encephalites in two patients with AIDS. Both patients had the diagnosis stablished on clinical grounds, positive sorology (IgG) for toxoplasmosis and computed-tomographic (CT) scan of the brain showing lesions consistent with T. gondii encephalitis. The two patients were initially treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, which was changed to clindamycin due to allergic reactions. These reactions (skin rash) occurred with clindamycin as well and the patients were treated with claritromycin and pyrimethamine. The scheduled regimens were 1.5 to 2 g of clarithromycin plus 25 mg of pyrimethamine. The clinical response was very good in both cases with regression of neurologic signs and encephalitic abnormalities observed on CT scan. The authors suggest that clarithromycin associated with pyrimethamine may be an alternative treatment for toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients, who cannot receive or tolerate sulfa treatment.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the treatment of acute malaria in children in Papua New Guinea. I. Plasmodium falciparum.

Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria is increasing in prevelance in Papua New Guinea and alternative therapies for acute malaria are being sought. A trial of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the treatment of acute falciparum malaria in children has been carried out in Madang, Papau New Guinea. Eighty-five children were treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, either alone or in combination with a single 10 mg/kg dose of chloroquine. Of 78 children completing 28-days follow-up, treatment failures occurred in 15 (19.2%) and of these, 8 (10.3%), are believed to be sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant; the others remain equivocal. There was no advantage in this study in combining a single dose of chloroquine with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine; indeed, this combination was associated with an increased incidence of vomiting. It is argued that sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine should not become the standard presumptive treatment for acute malaria in Papua New Guinea.

Child↗

Synergistic antimalarial activity of pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.

Two strains of Plasmodium falciparum were tested in vitro for sensitivity to the dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor pyrimethamine, the p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) analogue sulfadoxine, and combinations of both drugs. One strain was sensitive and one resistant to pyrimethamine in vitro. Parasites cultured in medium containing neither folic acid nor PABA were inhibited by 10(-6) M sulfadoxine, a concentration well below that achievable after therapeutic dosage. Folic acid added to this medium at a physiological concentration of 0.01 mg/liter caused a 1,000-fold reduction in sulfadoxine activity; a 100-fold higher concentration of folic acid caused a 10-fold reduction in pyrimethamine activity. Sulfadoxine in a concentration of 10(-7) M was able to potentiate pyrimethamine activity in PABA-free medium with no added folic acid or with 0.01 mg folic acid/liter. These data indicate that P. falciparum can utilize exogenous folic acid, and suggest that sulfadoxine may potentiate pyrimethamine activity by simultaneous inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗

In vitro activity of pyrimethamine, cycloguanil, and other antimalarial drugs against African isolates and clones of Plasmodium falciparum.

The in vitro activity of two dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors, pyrimethamine and cycloguanil, was evaluated against African clones and isolates of Plasmodium falciparum using an isotopic, semimicro drug susceptibility test. Three susceptibility levels (susceptible, intermediate, and resistant) were observed in the response of culture-adapted clones and strains to pyrimethamine (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50]) < 100, 100-2,000, and > 2,000 nM) and cycloguanil (IC50 < 50, 50-500, and > 500 nM). Based on these susceptibility levels, 73 and 68 of 96 fresh clinical isolates were susceptible to pyrimethamine (mean IC50 15.4 nM) and cycloguanil (mean IC50 11.1 nM), respectively. Thirteen and 18 isolates were resistant to pyrimethamine (mean IC50 9,440 nM) and cycloguanil (mean IC50 2,030 nM), respectively. A highly significant positive correlation was found between pyrimethamine and cycloguanil (r = 0.786), indicating in vitro cross-resistance between these antifolates. The spread of resistance to one of the DHFR inhibitors in Africa may compromise the utility of the other DHFR inhibitor.

Africa↗

Inadequate prophylaxis of malaria with dapsone-pyrimethamine.

The dapsone-pyrimethamine combination (100 mg of dapsone, 12.5 mg of pyrimethamine [Folaprim; Maloprim, one tablet a week) is considered to provide adequate prophylaxis for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but to be inadequate for the prevention of P. vivax malaria. Field trials and case reports, however, have shown the comparable efficacy of this combination in the suppression of parasitaemias caused by both parasites. In Lae, Papua New Guinea, 12 patients with clinical signs of malaria had serum concentrations of dapsone-pyrimethamine which were consistent with appropriate weekly use of this combination. The fact that 10 of these patients had P. vivax malaria supports the hitherto unsubstantiated view that dapsone-pyrimethamine can be ineffective in suppressing parasitaemias caused by this parasite. In the two patients with P. falciparum malaria, host factors rather than parasite resistance to dapsone-pyrimethamine were implicated in the development of the parasitaemias.

Adolescent↗

Pharmacokinetics, penetration into cerebrospinal fluid, and hematologic effects after multiple oral administrations of pyrimethamine to horses.

Pharmacokinetics, CSF penetration, and hematologic effects of oral administration of pyrimethamine were studied after multiple dosing. Pyrimethamine (1 mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally once a day for 10 days to 5 adult horses, and blood samples were collected frequently after the first, fifth, and tenth doses. The CSF samples were obtained by cisternal puncture 4 to 6 hours after administration of the first, third, seventh, and tenth doses. Pyrimethamine concentration in plasma and CSF was quantified by gas chromatography, and plasma concentration-time data were analyzed, using a pharmacokinetic computer program. Repeated daily dosing resulted in accumulation of pyrimethamine in plasma, with steady state being achieved within 5 days, when the mean peak plasma concentration was more than twice that measured after the first dose. Pyrimethamine concentration in CSF was 25 to 50% of corresponding plasma concentration and did not appear to accumulate with successive administration of doses. Blood samples collected during and after the dosing regimen were submitted for hematologic analysis; neutrophil numbers decreased slightly, but remained within normal range for adult horses.

Administration, Oral↗