Pefloxacin for Falciparum Malaria: Only Modest Success
Authors: Philippe Deloron, Jean Paul Lepers, Lucie Raharimalala, Béatrice Dubois, Pierre Coulanges, Jean Jacques Pocidalo
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1991)

Brief Reports15 May 1991Pefloxacin for Falciparum Malaria: Only Modest SuccessPhilippe Deloron, MDPhD, Jean Paul Lepers, MD, Lucie Raharimalala, MD, Béatrice Dubois, MA, Pierre Coulanges, MD, Jean Jacques Pocidalo, PhDPhilippe Deloron, MDPhDSearch for more papers by this author, Jean Paul Lepers, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Lucie Raharimalala, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Béatrice Dubois, MASearch for more papers by this author, Pierre Coulanges, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Jean Jacques Pocidalo, PhDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-114-10-874 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe spread of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strongly indicated the need for new safe and effective antimalarial drugs. In addition to their antibacterial action, fluoroquinolone antibiotics inhibit P. falciparum in vitro (1). Pefloxacin is effective against P. yoelii infection in mice (2), and norfloxacin, the main metabolite of Pefloxacin in humans, was reported to cure P. falciparum malaria in 9 adults in India (3). Therefore, we assessed the efficacy of Pefloxacin in treating chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum malaria in Madagascar (4).Patients and MethodsIn Ankazobe, 95 km west of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, blood was collected from 396 adults to...References1. DivoSartorelliPattonBia AACF. Activity of fluoroquinolone antibiotics against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988;32:1182-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. SalmonDeloronGaudinMalhotraLebrasPocidalo DPCKJJ. In-vivo activity of Pefloxacin and ciprofloxacin on experimental malaria in mice. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1990;34:2327-30. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Sarma P. Norfloxacin: a new drug in the treatment of falciparum malaria. Ann Intern Med. 1989;111:336-7. LinkGoogle Scholar4. LepersDeloronMoudenLe BrasCoulanges JPJJP. Sudden increase in number of isolates of Plasmodium falciparum resistant to chloroquine in Madagascar. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1989;83:491-2. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Bruce-Chwatt L ed. Chemotherapy of Malaria. 2d ed. Albany, New York: World Health Organization; 1986. Google Scholar6. RiouGabillotPhilippeSchrevelRiou JMMJG. Purification and characterization of Plasmodium berghei DNA topoisomerases I and II: drug action, inhibition of decatenation and relaxation, and stimulation of DNA cleavage. Biochemistry. 1986;25:1471-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. WolfsonHooper JD. The fluoroquinolones: structures, mechanisms of action and resistance, and spectra of activity in vitro. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1985;28:581-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. MontayGoueffonRoquet GYF. Absorption, distribution, metabolic fate, and elimination of Pefloxacin mesylate in mice, rats, dogs, monkeys, and humans. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1984; 25:463-72. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Wise R. Norfloxacin—a review of pharmacology and tissue penetration. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1984;13(Suppl. B):59-64. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. AstagneauLepersChougnet PJC. Assessment of the protective value of antibodies to the Plasmodium falciparum ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA): an epidemiologic study in Madagascar. Am J Epidemiol. 1991;133:177-84. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Philippe Deloron, MDPhD; Jean Paul Lepers, MD; Lucie Raharimalala, MD; Béatrice Dubois, MA; Pierre Coulanges, MD; Jean Jacques Pocidalo, PhDAffiliations: From Hôpital Claude Bernard, Paris, France; and Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar. For current author addresses, see end of text. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byTargeting the gyrase of Plasmodium falciparum with topoisomerase poisonsAmodiaquine–Ciprofloxacin: a potential combination therapy against drug resistant malariaAntimalarialsAntimalarial AgentsAntibiotiques et paludisme. Revue de la littératureNorfloxacin is not effective for treatment of Plasmodium falciparum infection in KenyaThe effects of multiplication and synchronicity on the vascular distribution of parasites in falciparum malaria 15 May 1991Volume 114, Issue 10Page: 874-875KeywordsAntibioticsAntimalarialsBloodMalariaMetabolitesPlasmodium falciparum ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 15 May 1991 Copyright & Permissions© 1991 American College of PhysiciansPDF downloadLoading ...