Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
Volume 80, Issue 2, Pages 188-193Publisher
AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2009.80.188
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Funding
- Universidad de Antioquia, Colciencias [1115-04-16497, RC-253-20043]
- Direccion Seccional de Salud de Antioquia (DSSA)
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Primaquine (PQ) is recommended to prevent relapses inpatients with Plasmodium vivax malaria infection. However, treatment with PQ causes methemoglobinemia. In this study, we measured the methemoglobin (MetHB) levels in three groups of subjects who received PQ treatment at 0.58, 0.83, or 1.17 mg/kg/d. A total of 1.12 subjects were studied. MetHB levels were detected at >= 4% in 46-50% 1 day after PQ treatment in all three groups and 4-9% of subjects had MetHB levels >= 4% 15 days after treatment. Only subjects receiving the highest doses of PQ had mild and brief adverse events, and 17% of them were associated with treatment. We conclude that when PQ is administered under certain conditions (i.e., normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, in non-pregnant subjects and with a light meal), daily doses as high as 1.17 mg/kg do not represent a serious risk of high MetHB levels to patients.
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