Related Experiment Videos
Antimalarial drugs reduce cytoadherence and rosetting Plasmodium falciparum
R Udomsangpetch1, B Pipitaporn, S Krishna
1Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Artemisinin derivatives like artesunate are more effective than quinine at preventing severe malaria complications. These drugs rapidly inhibit cytoadherence and rosetting of infected erythrocytes, unlike quinine.
Area of Science:
- Tropical Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria is associated with increased cytoadherence and rosette formation of infected erythrocytes.
- These processes contribute to microvascular obstruction and organ damage in severe malaria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the in vivo and in vitro effects of artemisinin derivatives (artesunate, artemether) and quinine on cytoadherence and rosette formation in falciparum malaria.
Main Methods:
- Studied 17 patients with severe and 46 with uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
- Assessed cytoadherence and rosette formation in vivo and in vitro.
- Measured drug effects after varying exposure times.
Main Results:
- Cytoadherence was significantly increased in severe malaria.
- Artesunate and artemether demonstrated greater potency than quinine in inhibiting both cytoadherence and rosetting.
- Artesunate showed rapid inhibition (>50%) within 2 hours, in vivo and in vitro.
- Quinine required longer exposure (>4 hours) for significant rosetting inhibition in vivo, with no effect on cytoadherence.
Conclusions:
- Artemisinin derivatives are more effective than quinine in inhibiting pathologic erythrocyte adherence properties.
- Artemisinin derivatives may be superior in preventing microvascular obstruction in severe falciparum malaria.