Pharmacokinetic considerations in seasonal malaria chemoprevention

• Main Authors: Palang Chotsiri, Nicholas J. White, Joel Tarning
• Other Authors: Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University
• Format: Review
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Immunology and Microbiology; Medicine
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/74090
• Institution: Mahidol University

African children under 5 years of age bear the main burden of global malaria mortality. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) plus amodiaquine (AQ) given monthly during the rainy season is a highly effective malaria intervention for children aged between 3 months and 5 years living in the Sahel region, a region of intense but seasonal malaria transmission. This intervention is now being considered for other regions of Africa where malaria parasites are more drug resistant. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), an artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), has proved to be highly effective and well tolerated in intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant women and children. This combination may be a suitable alternative for SMC. Understanding the safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of antimalarial combination therapies is crucial in optimising dosing.