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A randomized controlled trial of folate supplementation when treating malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.


ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is an antimalarial drug that acts on the folate metabolism of the malaria parasite. We investigated whether folate (FA) supplementation in a high or a low dose affects the efficacy of SP for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in pregnant women.

Design

This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

Setting

The trial was carried out at three hospitals in western Kenya.

Participants

The participants were 488 pregnant women presenting at their first antenatal visit with uncomplicated malaria parasitaemia (density of >or= 500 parasites/microl), a haemoglobin level higher than 7 g/dl, a gestational age between 17 and 34 weeks, and no history of antimalarial or FA use, or sulfa allergy. A total of 415 women completed the study.

Interventions

All participants received SP and iron supplementation. They were randomized to the following arms: FA 5 mg, FA 0.4 mg, or FA placebo. After 14 days, all participants continued with FA 5 mg daily as per national guidelines. Participants were followed at days 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 or until treatment failure.

Outcome measures

The outcomes were SP failure rate and change in haemoglobin at day 14.

Results

The proportion of treatment failure at day 14 was 13.9% (19/137) in the placebo group, 14.5% (20/138) in the FA 0.4 mg arm (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.07; 98.7% confidence interval [CI], 0.48 to 2.37; p = 0.8), and 27.1% (38/140) in the FA 5 mg arm (AHR, 2.19; 98.7% CI, 1.09 to 4.40; p = 0.005). The haemoglobin levels at day 14 were not different relative to placebo (mean difference for FA 5 mg, 0.17 g/dl; 98.7% CI, -0.19 to 0.52; and for FA 0.4 mg, 0.14 g/dl; 98.7% CI, -0.21 to 0.49).

Conclusions

Concomitant use of 5 mg FA supplementation compromises the efficacy of SP for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in pregnant women. Countries that use SP for treatment or prevention of malaria in pregnancy need to evaluate their antenatal policy on timing or dose of FA supplementation.

SUBMITTER: Ouma P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1617124 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A randomized controlled trial of folate supplementation when treating malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

Ouma Peter P   Parise Monica E ME   Hamel Mary J MJ   Ter Kuile Feiko O FO   Otieno Kephas K   Ayisi John G JG   Kager Piet A PA   Steketee Richard W RW   Slutsker Laurence L   van Eijk Anna M AM  

PLoS clinical trials 20061020 6


<h4>Objectives</h4>Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is an antimalarial drug that acts on the folate metabolism of the malaria parasite. We investigated whether folate (FA) supplementation in a high or a low dose affects the efficacy of SP for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in pregnant women.<h4>Design</h4>This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.<h4>Setting</h4>The trial was carried out at three hospitals in western Kenya.<h4>Participants</h4>The participants were 488  ...[more]

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