Journal of Vector Borne Diseases (Sep 2010)
Comparison of quinine and rabeprazole with quinine monotherapy in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria
Abstract
Objective: This study was conducted to assess the effect of combination treatment of quinine andrabeprazole in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.Methods: The study included 50 patients of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. Group 1 (25patients) received quinine and placebo (Q+P) while Group 2 (25 patients) received quinine andrabeprazole (Q+R). Diagnosis was confirmed by peripheral blood film (PBF) and rapid diagnostictest (RDT). Temperature was recorded every 6 h. All patients were followed-up on Days 7, 14, 21,28 for detailed clinical and parasitological examination.Results: A total of 20 patients in each group completed the treatment and followed-up for 28 days.While two patients in Group 1 (Q+P) and one patient in Group 2 (Q+R) were lost in follow-up;and seven (Q+P = 4, Q+R =3) patients were withdrawn from the study. Fever clearance time(FCT) of the two groups was also almost similar (Group 1 : 2 = 52.8 : 51.3 h). No statisticallysignificant difference was observed in early treatment failure (ETF) either of the groups. None ofthe patients in both the groups showed late clinical failure (LCF) or late parasitological failure(LPF). However, there was a significant difference in the parasite clearance rates of the two groups(p<0.05).Conclusion: The study results suggest that addition of rabeprazole to quinine regimen resulted inan increase in the parasite elimination rate, which may be helpful in reducing the duration oftreatment and increasing patient compliance.
