Update on the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of artemether–lumefantrine combination therapy for treatment of uncomplicated malaria

Review

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Authors: Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, Mohammed Lamorde, Harriet Mayanja-Kizza, et al

Published Date December 2009 Volume 2010:6 Pages 11 - 20

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S4483

Pauline Byakika-Kibwika^1,2, Mohammed Lamorde^1,2, Harriet Mayanja-Kizza¹, Concepta Merry^1,2, Bob Colebunders^3,4, Jean-Pierre Van geertruyden^4,5

¹Infectious Diseases Institute and Infectious Diseases Network for Treatment and Research in Africa (INTERACT), Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda; ²Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; ³Dienst Clinical Sciences, Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, Antwerp, Belgium; ⁴International Health, Epidemiology en Social Medicine, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium; ⁵Epidemiology Unit, Dienst Parasitologie, Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, Antwerp, Belgium

Abstract: Artemether–lumefantrine is one of the artemisisnin-based combination therapies recommended for treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The drug combination is highly efficacious against sensitive and multidrug resistant falciparum malaria. It offers the advantage of rapid clearance of parasites by artemether and the slower elimination of residual parasites by lumefantrine. The combination can be used in all populations except pregnant mothers in the first trimester where safety is still uncertain. There are still concerns about safety and pharmacokinetics of the drug combination in children, especially infants, pregnant mothers and drug interactions with mainly non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors used for HIV therapy.

Keywords: artemether–lumefantrine, efficacy, effectiveness, safety, malaria