Randomized Comparative Study of Chloroquine and Halofantrine in Vivax Malaria Patients

Cases of vivax nalaria resistant to chloroquine and post transfusion vivax nnlaria resistant to chloroquine and quinine have been reported in Indonesia. In order to cotnpare the eficacy, tolerance and side fficts of chloroquine and halofantrine in the treatnent of vivax nalaria patients, a randonized study was carried out in Bethesda Hospital, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. All patients were hospitalizedfor 5 da1,s and treated with chloroquine 25 ng base/kg BW in 3 doses over 48 hours or halofantrine 1500 mg in 3 doses at 6 hour intervals, both with prinnquine 15 ng base/dayfor I4 days. During the study, the subjects slept under impregnated bed nets and were followed up for 28 days. On admission, the chloroquine and halofantrine groups were not significantly diïerent in presenting characteristics or physical and laboratory exaninations, except the parasite count was higher in the chloroquine group and all,"aline phosphatase wos higher in the halofantrine group. The rate of parasite clearance and the ntean parosite clearance time of chloroquine (IAO% and 48.0 + 18.9 hours) vs halofantrine (95.5% and 61.5 + 21.6 hours) were not significantly different; however the neanfever clearance tine of chloroquine (18.9 + 16.1 hours) was shorter than halofantrine (21.9 + 24.8 hours ). No abnorntal biochenûcal paraneter was fowrd in either group. The side effects of chloroquine and halofantrine were not significantly diferent; they were nild and self-lintiting. lVhile chloroquine was still very ffictive, halofantrine also showed a good rcsponse and was safe for treat,nent of vivar nalaria in the study area. Key w ords : Vivax m ala r i a, t r eat, n e nt, chlo ro qui n e, hal ofant r i ne * This paper had been presented at VIII International Congress of Parasitologl,. l0-14 October 1994. Iztnir, Turkey. l. Conmunicable Diseases Research Center, National Institute of Health Research and Developnunent, Mitl.istry ol Health, Jakarta, Indonesia. 2. Departnent of Parositologl,, Faculry of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia. 3. Directoraîe General of Conununicable Disease Control and Envirorunental Health, Ministry of Health, Jaknrta, Indonesia. 4. Bethesda Hospital, Tonohon, North Sulav,esi, Indonesia. Vol 4, No 1, January-March, 1995