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Pulmonary toxicity with mefloquine.
1Division de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Institut Pathologic, Lausanne, Switzerland.
The European Respiratory Journal
|January 5, 2002
Summary
Mefloquine can cause acute lung injury and diffuse alveolar damage, even in patients without glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. This rare side effect highlights the importance of monitoring patients after malaria treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Mefloquine is a common antimalarial drug.
- Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe adverse reaction.
- Previous reports suggested glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency as a risk factor for mefloquine-induced ALI.
Observation:
- A case of acute lung injury developed rapidly after mefloquine administration for persistent P. falciparum malaria.
- Microbiological investigations were negative, and lung biopsy revealed diffuse alveolar damage.
- The patient recovered without specific treatment.
Findings:
- This is the second reported case of mefloquine-induced acute lung injury and diffuse alveolar damage.
- Unlike a previous case, the patient in this report had normal Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase levels.
- This suggests G6PD deficiency is not a necessary predisposing factor for mefloquine-induced ALI.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of the potential for mefloquine to cause acute lung injury.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and risk factors for mefloquine-induced ALI.
- This case expands the understanding of mefloquine's adverse effects beyond previously identified risk factors.