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Whalen ME, Kajubi R, Goodwin J, Orukan F, Colt M, Huang L, Richards K, Wang K, Li F, Mwebaza N, Aweeka FT, Parikh S. The Impact of Extended Treatment With Artemether-lumefantrine on Antimalarial Exposure and Reinfection Risks in Ugandan Children With Uncomplicated Malaria: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 76:443-452. [PMID: 36130191 PMCID: PMC9907485 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is the most widely used artemisinin-based combination therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa and is threatened by the emergence of artemisinin resistance. Dosing is suboptimal in young children. We hypothesized that extending AL duration will improve exposure and reduce reinfection risks. METHODS We conducted a prospective, randomized, open-label pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study of extended duration AL in children with malaria in high-transmission rural Uganda. Children received 3-day (standard 6-dose) or 5-day (10-dose) AL with sampling for artemether, dihydroartemisinin, and lumefantrine over 42-day clinical follow-up. Primary outcomes were (1) comparative pharmacokinetic parameters between regimens and (2) recurrent parasitemia analyzed as intention-to-treat. RESULTS A total of 177 children aged 16 months to 16 years were randomized, contributing 227 total episodes. Terminal median lumefantrine concentrations were significantly increased in the 5-day versus 3-day regimen on days 7, 14, and 21 (P < .001). A predefined day 7 lumefantrine threshold of 280 ng/mL was strongly predictive of recurrence risk at 28 and 42 days (P < .001). Kaplan-Meier estimated 28-day (51% vs 40%) and 42-day risk (75% vs 68%) did not significantly differ between 3- and 5-day regimens. No significant toxicity was seen with the extended regimen. CONCLUSIONS Extending the duration of AL was safe and significantly enhanced overall drug exposure in young children but did not lead to significant reductions in recurrent parasitemia risk in our high-transmission setting. However, day 7 levels were strongly predictive of recurrent parasitemia risk, and those in the lowest weight-band were at higher risk of underdosing with the standard 3-day regimen. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03453840.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan E Whalen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Richard Kajubi
- Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Justin Goodwin
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Francis Orukan
- Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - McKenzie Colt
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Liusheng Huang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kacey Richards
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kaicheng Wang
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Fangyong Li
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Norah Mwebaza
- Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Francesca T Aweeka
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sunil Parikh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Odhiambo G, Bergmann-Leitner E, Maraka M, Wanjala CNL, Duncan E, Waitumbi J, Andagalu B, Jura WGZO, Dutta S, Angov E, Ogutu BR, Kamau E, Ochiel D. Correlation Between Malaria-Specific Antibody Profiles and Responses to Artemisinin Combination Therapy for Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Western Kenya. J Infect Dis 2020; 219:1969-1979. [PMID: 30649381 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of preexisting immunity on the efficacy of artemisinin combination therapy must be examined to monitor resistance, and for implementation of new treatment strategies. METHODS Serum samples obtained from a clinical trial in Western Kenya randomized to receive artemether-lumefantrine (AL) or artesunate-mefloquine (ASMQ) were screened for total immunoglobulin G against preerythrocytic and erythrocytic antigens. The association and correlation between different variables, and impact of preexisting immunity on parasite slope half-life (t½) was determined. RESULTS There was no significant difference in t½, but the number of individuals with lag phase was significantly higher in the AL than in the ASMQ arm (29 vs 13, respectively; P < .01). Circumsporozoite protein-specific antibodies correlate positively with t½ (AL, P = .03; ASMQ, P = .09), but negatively with clearance rate in both study arms (AL, P = .16; ASMQ, P = .02). The t½ correlated negatively with age in ASMQ group. When stratified based on t½, the antibody titers against circumsporozoite protein and merozoite surface protein 1 were significantly higher in participants who cleared parasites rapidly in the AL group (P = .01 and P = .02, respectively). CONCLUSION Data presented here define immunoprofiles associated with distinct responses to 2 different antimalarial drugs, revealing impact of preexisting immunity on the efficacy of artemisinin combination therapy regimens in a malaria-holoendemic area. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT01976780.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Odhiambo
- Department of Emerging and Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project , Kisumu.,Maseno University School of Physical and Biological Sciences Zoology Department, Maseno, Kenya
| | - Elke Bergmann-Leitner
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Moureen Maraka
- Department of Emerging and Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project , Kisumu
| | - Christine N L Wanjala
- Department of Emerging and Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project , Kisumu.,Maseno University School of Physical and Biological Sciences Zoology Department, Maseno, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth Duncan
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - John Waitumbi
- Department of Emerging and Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project , Kisumu
| | - Ben Andagalu
- Department of Emerging and Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project , Kisumu
| | - Walter G Z O Jura
- Maseno University School of Physical and Biological Sciences Zoology Department, Maseno, Kenya
| | - Sheetij Dutta
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Evelina Angov
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Bernhards R Ogutu
- Department of Emerging and Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project , Kisumu.,Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi
| | - Edwin Kamau
- Department of Emerging and Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project , Kisumu.,Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Daniel Ochiel
- Department of Emerging and Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project , Kisumu.,Maseno University School of Physical and Biological Sciences Zoology Department, Maseno, Kenya
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Huang L, Mwebaza N, Kajubi R, Marzan F, Forsman C, Parikh S, Aweeka FT. Strong correlation of lumefantrine concentrations in capillary and venous plasma from malaria patients. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202082. [PMID: 30114201 PMCID: PMC6095545 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lumefantrine is a long-acting antimalarial drug with an elimination half-life of over 3 days and protein binding of 99 percent. Correlation of lumefantrine concentrations from capillary plasma via fingerprick (Cc) versus venous plasma (Cv) remains to be defined. Methods Venous and capillary plasma samples were collected simultaneously from children, pregnant women, and non-pregnant adults at 2, 24, 120hr post last dose of a standard 3-day artemether-lumefantrine regimen they received for uncomplicated malaria. Some of the enrolled children and pregnant women were also HIV-infected. Samples were analyzed via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Linear regression analysis was performed using the program Stata® SE12.1. Results In children, the linear regression equations for Cc vs Cv at 2, 24, and 120hr (day 7) post dose are [Cc] = 1.05*[Cv]+95.0 (n = 142, R2 = 0.977), [Cc] = 0.995*[Cv]+56.7 (n = 147, R2 = 0.990) and [Cc] = 0.958*[Cv]+18.6 (n = 139, R2 = 0.994), respectively. For pregnant women, the equations are [Cc] = 1.04*[Cv]+68.1 (n = 43, R2 = 0.990), [Cc] = 0.997*[Cv]+37.3 (n = 43, R2 = 0.993) and [Cc] = 0.941*[Cv]+11.1 (n = 41, R2 = 0.941), respectively. For non-pregnant adults, the equations are [Cc] = 1.05*[Cv]-117 (n = 32, R2 = 0.958), [Cc] = 0.962*[Cv]+9.21 (n = 32, R2 = 0.964) and [Cc] = 1.04*[Cv]-40.1 (n = 32, R2 = 0.988), respectively. In summary, a linear relationship with a slope of ~1 was found for capillary and venous lumefantrine levels in children, pregnant women and non-pregnant adults at 2hr, 24hr and 120hr post last dose, representing absorption, distribution, and elimination phases. Conclusions Capillary and venous plasma concentration of lumefantrine can be used interchangeably at 1:1 ratio. Capillary sampling method via finger prick is a suitable alternative for sample collection in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liusheng Huang
- Drug Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LH); (FTA)
| | - Norah Mwebaza
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Richard Kajubi
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Florence Marzan
- Drug Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Camilla Forsman
- Drug Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Sunil Parikh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Francesca T. Aweeka
- Drug Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LH); (FTA)
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Huang L, Carey V, Lindsey JC, Marzan F, Gingrich D, Graham B, Barlow-Mosha L, Ssemambo PK, Kamthunzi P, Nachman S, Parikh S, Aweeka FT. Concomitant nevirapine impacts pharmacokinetic exposure to the antimalarial artemether-lumefantrine in African children. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186589. [PMID: 29065172 PMCID: PMC5655345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The antiretroviral drug nevirapine and the antimalarial artemisinin-based combination therapy artemether-lumefantrine are commonly co-administered to treat malaria in the context of HIV. Nevirapine is a known inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A4, which metabolizes artemether and lumefantrine. To address the concern that the antiretroviral nevirapine impacts the antimalarial artemether-lumefantrine pharmacokinetics, a prospective non-randomized controlled study in children presenting with uncomplicated malaria and HIV in sub-Saharan Africa was carried out. METHODS Participants received artemether-lumefantrine (20/120 mg weight-based BID) for 3 days during nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) co-administration (158-266 mg/m2 QD). HIV positive participants who were not yet on ART drugs were also enrolled as the control group. The target enrollment was children aged 3-12 years (n = 24 in each group). Intensive pharmacokinetics after the last artemether-lumefantrine dose was assessed for artemether, its active metabolite dihydroartemisinin, and lumefantrine. Pharmacokinetic parameters (area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve (AUC), maximum concentration and day 7 lumefantrine concentrations) were estimated using non-compartmental methods and compared to controls. RESULTS Nineteen children (16 on nevirapine and three not on ART) enrolled. Fifteen of the 16 (aged 4 to 11 years) on nevirapine-based ART were included in the pharmacokinetic analysis. Due to evolving WHO HIV treatment guidelines, insufficient children were enrolled in the control group (n = 3), so the pharmacokinetic data were compared to a historical control group of 20 HIV-uninfected children 5-12 years of age who also presented with malaria and underwent identical study procedures. Decreases of pharmacokinetic exposure [as estimated by AUC (AUC0-8hr)] were marginally significant for artemether (by -46%, p = 0.08) and dihydroartemisinin (-22%, p = 0.06) in the children on nevirapine-based ART, compared to when artemether-lumefantrine was administered alone. Similarly, peak concentration was decreased by 50% (p = 0.07) for artemether and 36% (p = 0.01) for dihydroartemisinin. In contrast, exposure to lumefantrine increased significantly in the context of nevirapine [AUC0-120hr:123% (p<0.001); Cday7:116% (p<0.001), Cmax: 95% (p<0.001)]. CONCLUSIONS Nevirapine-based ART increases the exposure to lumefantrine in pre-pubescent children with a trend toward diminished artemether and dihydroartemisinin exposure. These findings contrast with other studies indicating NVP reduces or results in no change in exposure of antimalarial drugs, and may be specific to this age group (4-12 years). Considering the excellent safety profile of artemether-lumefantrine, the increase in lumefantrine is not of concern. However, the reduction in artemisinin exposure may warrant further study, and suggests that dosage adjustment of artemether-lumefantrine with nevirapine-based ART in children is likely warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liusheng Huang
- Drug Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Vincent Carey
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Jane C. Lindsey
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Florence Marzan
- Drug Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - David Gingrich
- Drug Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Bobbie Graham
- Frontier Science and Technology Research Foundation, Buffalo, NY, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Sharon Nachman
- School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States of America
| | - Sunil Parikh
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Francesca T. Aweeka
- Drug Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
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Sugiarto SR, Davis TME, Salman S. Pharmacokinetic considerations for use of artemisinin-based combination therapies against falciparum malaria in different ethnic populations. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2017; 13:1115-1133. [PMID: 29027504 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2017.1391212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is used extensively as first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. There has been no rigorous assessment of the potential for racial/ethnic differences in the pharmacokinetic properties of ACTs that might influence their efficacy. Areas covered: A comprehensive literature search was performed that identified 72 publications in which the geographical origin of the patients could be ascertained and the key pharmacokinetic parameters maximum drug concentration (Cmax), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and elimination half-life (t½β) were available for one or more of the five WHO-recommended ACTs (artemether-lumefantrine, artesunate-amodiaquine, artesunate-mefloquine, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and artesunate-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine). Comparisons of each of the three pharmacokinetic parameters of interest were made by drug (artemisinin derivative and long half-life partner), race/ethnicity (African, Asian, Caucasian, Melanesian, South American) and patient categories based on age and pregnancy status. Expert opinion: The review identified no evidence of a clinically significant influence of race/ethnicity on the pharmacokinetic properties of the nine component drugs in the five ACTs currently recommended by WHO for first-line treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. This provides reassurance for health workers in malaria-endemic regions that ACTs can be given in recommended doses with the expectation of adequate blood concentrations regardless of race/ethnicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sri Riyati Sugiarto
- a Medical School , University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital , Fremantle , Australia
| | - Timothy M E Davis
- a Medical School , University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital , Fremantle , Australia
| | - Sam Salman
- a Medical School , University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital , Fremantle , Australia
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