A comparative study of dihydroartemisinin compounds in treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Kampong of Cambodia

Abstract

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of two compounds of dihydroartemisinin (DHA)—Artekin and Artekin (T) in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.Methods: The regimen of 8-tablet for 2 days of Artekin and Artekin (T) were applied to 100 patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria, who were randomly divided into two groups. Each group contained 50 cases. The cure rate, the mean parasites clearance time, the mean fever clearance and side-effects were observed to assess the safety and efficacy of the compounds used.Results: The mean parasites clearance time was 31.7±9.0 hours in the Artekin group and 32.8±8.8 hours in Artekin (T) group respectively; the mean fever clearance time was 12. 7±7. 2 hours in Artekin group and 16. 5±7. 9 hours in Artekin (T) group; there were no recrudescence case in both groups within the 28 days of follow-up, the cure rates in Artekin group and Artekin (T) groups were 100%. It indicated that the tolerability of both compounds were very good, the side-effects such as nausea, abdominal pain were mild and self-limited.Conclusion: The study preliminarily indicated that the DHA and PQ compounds were of high efficacy, rapid acting and low toxicity. Artekin is very promising as a cheap, simple, effective treatment for multi-resistance malaria in Cambodia.