Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Phase 3a: Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Dihydroartemisinin/Piperaquine (Artekin®) for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria in the Peruvian Amazon Region
Brief Summary: In Peru, Mefloquine plus Artesunate (MAS3), is the current first line treatment for P. falciparum malaria in the Amazonian Region, and has proved its efficacy against multi-resistant P. falciparum parasites, but several side effects have been reported. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) is a new co-formulated and well tolerated ACT, increasingly used in Southeast Asia where it has proved to be highly effective against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. We tested the efficacy, safety and tolerability of DHA-PPQ in patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. A RCT to evaluate DHA-PPQ was carried out, between 2003 and 2005. Patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were randomly allocated to receive either DHA-PPQ or MAS3 with a 63-day follow-up period. Five hundred twenty two patients were included in the analysis, 262 were allocated to receive DHA-PPQ, and 260 to receive MAS3. The two groups were comparable at baseline in demographic and clinical characteristics. The mean time for parasite clearance into the DHA-PPQ group was 32.0 hours and 35.5 hours in the MAS3 group. Twenty-four hours after the first dose, the proportions of patients whose cleared parasitaemia were 67.2% in the DHA-PPQ group, and 58.1% in the MAS3 group (RR 1.25, \[95% CI 1.03-1.52\], p = 0.017). All patients were able to clear parasites within 72 hours after the first dose. The mean time for fever clearance was 28.0 and 29.5 hours in DHA-PPQ and MAS3 group respectively. (P= 0.69). Twenty-four hours after the first dose, 85.5% and 83.1% of patients cleared fever in the DHA-PPQ and MAS3 group respectively (p\>0.05). The Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR), PCR adjusted, were 97.7% and 99,2% for the DHA-PPQ and MAS3 group respectively, (RR 0.99, 95% CI \[0.86-1.13\], P = 0.88). No Early Treatments Failures were reported in any group. In the DHA-PPQ group, according to the PCR adjusted results, 6 subjects had Late treatment Failures. In the MAS3 group, two Late Treatment Failures was reported. The frequency of adverse events was significantly lower in patients treated with DHA-PPQ than in those treated with MAS3.

DHA-PPQ proved to be a highly effective antimalarial drug for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria and suitable for use in the Peruvian Amazon region. It also has the advantage of being better tolerated. In terms of cost, DHA-PPQ is cheaper and more affordable than MAS3 and should be considered for the National Antimalarial Drug Policy in Perú.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male and female patients at least one 1year of age and weighing more than 10kg.
* Microscopic confirmation of P. falciparum and /or P.vivax infection (any parasitaemia).
* Fever (axillary temperature \>37.5C) or history of fever in the last 48 hours.
* Able to participate in the trial and comply with the clinical trial protocol
* Written informed consent to participate in trial; verbal consent in presence of literate witness is required for illiterate patients, and written consent from parents/guardian for children below age of consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy or lactation
* Inability to tolerate oral treatment
* Signs/symptoms indicative of severe/complicated malaria or warning signs requiring parenteral treatment (See Appendix II)
* Known hypersensitivity or allergy to artemisinin derivatives
* Serious underlying disease (cardiac, renal or hepatic)
* Parasitaemia \>4%
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 6 months to 10 years
* Body weight \>5 kg
* Uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria
* Mono-infection with P. falciparum
* Asexual parasite density 2,000 to 200,000 parasites/µl
* Haemoglobin ≥7.0 g/dL
* Axillary temperature ≥37.5ºC or history of fever in preceding 24 hr
* Ability to tolerate oral therapy
* Residence in study area

Exclusion Criteria:

* Haemoglobin \<7.0 g/dL
* Leucocyte count: \>15,000/µL
* G6PD deficiency
* Mixed malaria infections
* Danger signs (unable to drink; repeated vomiting; recent history of convulsions; lethargic or unconscious state; unable to stand up or to sit) and signs of severe malaria as defined by WHO
* Any other severe underlying disease (cardiac, renal, hepatic diseases, malnutrition, known HIV infection)
* Concomitant disease masking assessment of response, e.g. known or suspected hearing impairments
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: 5 - 60 years old
* Fever (axillary temperature equal or higher than 37,5 °C) or history of fever in the previous 24 hours
* Monoinfection with P. falciparum, with parasitic density between 1,000 and 200,000 par/µl
* Informed consent provided by patient or parent or legal tutor

  • Exclusion criteria:
* Mixed malaria infection
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding to child ≤ 6 months of age
* One or more danger signs or any sign of severe or complicated malaria
* A concomitant severe disease
* History of treatment with mefloquine in the last 60 days or chloroquine, primaquine or quinine within the 14 days before the present episode
* History of neuropsychiatric disease
* History of hypersensitivity reactions to artemisinins or mefloquine
* History of splenectomy
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* microscopically confirmed acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria;
* temperature at screening 37.50C or more or history of fever 24 preceding enrollment;
* willingness to comply with follow up schedule;
* written informed consent by accompanying parent or guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

* features of severe malaria or danger signs of malaria
* known intolerance or allergy to any of the study medications
* known treatment with any of the study medications in the month preceding enrollment
* serious underlying disease that may mask outcome assessment

Answer: C