Abstract
Fifty-two adult patients with cerebral malaria were randomly categorized into two groups to receive either quinine dihydrochloride (Qn) alone or a combination of Qn and pentoxifylline (Px). Thirty-two of them received intravenous (i.v.) Qn (group I), and 20 patients (group II) received i.v. Qn along with parenteral Px support (10 mg/kg/day) for the initial 3 days. There was significant improvement in coma resolution time in group II (21.6 ± 13.9 h) in comparison with group I (63.5 ± 19.7 h) (P < 0.001), and mortality was 25% of patients in group I against 10% patients receiving Px adjunct (P > 0.05). Three days post-therapy, serum tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels decreased significantly in patients on Px support (day 0 TNF = 415.62 ± 477.80 pg/ml; day 3 TNF = 47.92 ± 27.9 pg/ml; P = 0.0029). There was no significant change in TNF levels in those on quinine alone (day 0 TNF = 477.08 ± 933.90 pg/ml; day 3 TNF = 589 ± 602.3 pg/ml; P > 0.05). There were no serious side-effects necessitating withdrawal of patients receiving Px therapy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 680-684 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Tropical Medicine and International Health |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2003 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Human cerebral malaria
- Pentoxifylline
- Plasmodium falciparum
- Quinine dihydrochloride
- Tumour necrosis factor-α
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Parasitology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases