Generic placeholder image

Current Drug Safety

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1574-8863
ISSN (Online): 2212-3911

Antimalarial Drugs in Pregnancy: A Review

Author(s): Francois Nosten, Rose McGready, Umberto d'Alessandro, Ana Bonell, Francine Verhoeff, Clara Menendez, Thenonest Mutabingwa and Bernard Brabin

Volume 1, Issue 1, 2006

Page: [1 - 15] Pages: 15

DOI: 10.2174/157488606775252584

Open Access Journals Promotions 2
Abstract

In this review we examine the available information on the safety of antimalarials in pregnancy, from both animal and human studies. The antimalarials that can be used in pregnancy include (1) chloroquine, (2) amodiaquine, (3) quinine, (4) azithromycin, (5) sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, (6) mefloquine, (7) dapsone-chlorproguanil, (8) artemisinin derivatives, (9) atovaquone-proguanil and (10) lumefantrine. Antimalarial drugs that should not be used in pregnancy including (1) halofantrine, (2) tetracycline/doxycycline, and (3) primaquine. There are few studies in humans on the pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of antimalarials in pregnancy. This is because pregnant women are systematically excluded from clinical trials. The absence of adequate safety data, especially in the first trimester, is an important obstacle to developing treatment strategies. The pharmacokinetics of most antimalarial drugs are also modified in pregnancy and dosages will need to be adapted. Other factors, including HIV status, drug interactions with antiretrovirals, the influence of haematinics and host genetic polymorphisms may influence safety and efficacy. For these reasons there is an urgent need to assess the safety and efficacy of antimalarial treatments in pregnancy, including artemisinin based combination therapies.

Keywords: Pregnancy, malaria, antimalarial drugs, human studies, animal studies

Next »

© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy