Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Control of Malaria During Pregnancy: Safety of Antimalarial Drugs

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Malaria

  • 335 Accesses

Introduction

Malaria infection during pregnancy is a huge public health problem, with risks for the mother, the fetus, and the neonate with at least 50 million pregnant women living in malaria-endemic areas (WHO AFRO).

It has been estimated that malaria during pregnancy is responsible for 5–12 % of all low birth weight and 35 % of all preventable low birth weight and contributes to 75,000-200,000 infant deaths each year (Steketee et al. 2001). In areas of low transmission of Plasmodium falciparum, where levels of acquired immunity are low, women are susceptible to episodes of severe malaria, which can result in stillbirths or spontaneous abortion or death of the mother (WHO 2007). In areas of high transmission, where levels of immunity tend to be high, women are susceptible to asymptomatic infection, which can result in maternal anemia and placental parasitemia, both of which can subsequently lead to low birth weight and increased infant mortality (WHO 2007). Although there are fewer...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bounyasong S. Randomized trial of artesunate and mefloquine in comparison with quinine sulphate to treat P. Falciparum malaria pregnant women. J Med Assoc Thai. 2001;84:1289–98.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brent RL. Immunization of pregnant women: reproductive, medical and societal risks. Vaccine. 2003;21:3414–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briggs GG. Drug effects on the fetus and breast-fed infant. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2002;45:6.21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clyde DF. Clinical problems associated with the use of primaquine as a tissue schizontocidal and gametocytocidal drug. Bull World Health Organ. 1981;59:391–5.

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dellicour S, ter Kuile FO, Stergachis A. Pregnancy exposure registries for assessing antimalarial drug safety in pregnancy in malaria-endemic countries. PLoS Med. 2008a;5:1310–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Medicines Agency. Guideline on risk assessment of medicinal products on human reproduction and lactation: from data to labelling. EMEA/CHMP/203927/2005: London, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ezechi O, Odberg Petterson K, Byamugisha J. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in pregnancy. J Pregnancy 2012;2012:140826.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalilani L, Mofolo I, Chaponda M, Rogerson SJ, Alker AP, Kwiek JJ, et al. A randomized controlled pilot trial of azithromycin or artesunate added to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine as treatment for malaria in pregnant women. PLoS One. 2007;2(e1166):1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy DL, Uhl K, Kweder SL. Pregnancy exposure registries. Drug Saf. 2004;27:215–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGready R, Brockman A, Cho T, Cho D, Van Vugt M, Luxemburger C, et al. Randomized comparison of mefloquine-artesunate versus quinine in the treatment of multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria in pregnancy. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2000;94:689–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGready R, Ashley EA, Moo E, Cho T, Barends M, Hutagalung R, et al. A randomized comparison of artesunate-atovaquone-proguanil versus quinine in treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria during pregnancy. J Infect Dis. 2005;192:846–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nosten F, McGready R. The treatment of malaria in pregnancy. In: Duffy PE, Fried M, editors. Malaria in pregnancy: deadly parasite, susceptible host. London: Taylor & Francis; 2001. p. 223–41.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nosten F, Ter Kuile FO, Luxemburger C, Woodrow C, Kyle DE, Chongsuphajaisiddhi T, et al. Cardiac effects of antimalarial treatment with halofantrine. Lancet. 1993;341:1054–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nosten F, et al. Effects of Plasmodium vivax malaria in pregnancy. Lancet. 1999;354:546–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orton LC, Omari AAA. Drugs for treating uncomplicated malaria in pregnant women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(4):CD004912. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004912.pub3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polifka JE, Friedman JM. Medical genetics: 1. Clinical teratology in the age of genomics. Can Med Assoc J. 2002;167:265–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steketee RW, et al. The burden of malaria in pregnancy in malaria-endemic countries. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2001;6:28–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tagbor H, Bruce J, Browne E, Randal A, Greenwood B, Chandramohan D. Efficay, safety and tolerability of amodiaquine plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine used alone or in combination for malaria treatment in pregnancy: a randomized trial. Lancet. 2006;368:1349–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor WR, White NJ. Antimalarial drug toxicity: a review. Drug Saf. 2004;27:25–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • US Food and Drug Administration. List of pregnancy exposure registries. 2008. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/womens/registries/registries.html. Accessed 2 Apr 2013.

  • White NJ, McGready RM, Nosten FH. New medicines for tropical diseases in pregnancy: catch-22. PLoS Med 5. e133. 2008. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050133.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO/AFRO. A strategic framework for malaria prevention and control during pregnancy in African region. World Health Organization Regional Office in the African region, Brazzaville. 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. Guidelines for the treatment of malaria. 2nd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010. p. 26–8. ISBN 978 92 4 154792 5.

    Google Scholar 

Further Readings

  • Bardají A, Sigauque B, Bruni L, Romagosa C, Sanz S, Mabunda S, Mandomando I, Aponte J, Sevene E, Alonso PL, Menéndez C. Clinical malaria in African pregnant women. Malar J. 2008;7:27. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-7-27. PMID:18234078.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brabin BJ, Warsame M, Uddenfeldt-Wort U, Dellicour S, Hill J, Gies S. Monitoring and evaluation of malaria in pregnancy - developing a rational basis for control. Malar J. 2008;7 Suppl 1:S6. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-7-S1-S6. Review. Erratum in: Malar J. 2009;8:146. Wasame, Marian [corrected to Warsame, Marian]. PMID:19091040.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brabin L, Stokes E, Dumbaya I, Owens S. Rural Gambian women’s reliance on health workers to deliver sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine as recommended intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy. Malar J. 2009;8:25. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-25. PMID:19216759.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dellicour S, Hall S, Chandramohan D, Greenwood B. The safety of artemisinins during pregnancy: a pressing question. Malar J. 2007;6:15. Review. PMID:17300719.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dellicour S, ter Kuile FO, Stergachis A. Pregnancy exposure registries for assessing antimalarial drug safety in pregnancy in malaria-endemic countries. PLoS Med. 2008b;5(9):e187. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050187. Epub 2008 Sep 9. Review. No abstract available. PMID:18788893.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Falade C, Manyando C. Safety profile of Coartem: the evidence base. Malar J. 2009;8 Suppl 1:S6. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-S1-S6. Review. PMID:19818173.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manyando C, Mkandawire R, Puma L, Sinkala M, Mpabalwani E, Njunju E, Gomes M, Ribeiro I, Walter V, Virtanen M, Schlienger R, Cousin M, Chipimo M, Sullivan FM. Safety of artemether-lumefantrine in pregnant women with malaria: results of a prospective cohort study in Zambia. Malar J. 2010;9:249. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-9-249. PMID:20809964.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manyando C, Kayentao K, D'Alessandro U, Okafor HU, Juma E, Hamed K. A systematic review of the safety and efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine against uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria during pregnancy. Malar J. 2012;11:141. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-141. Review. PMID:22548983.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGready R, Tan SO, Ashley EA, Pimanpanarak M, Viladpai-Nguen J, Phaiphun L, Wüstefeld K, Barends M, Laochan N, Keereecharoen L, Lindegardh N, Singhasivanon P, White NJ, Nosten F. A randomised controlled trial of artemether-lumefantrine versus artesunate for uncomplicated plasmodium falciparum treatment in pregnancy. PLoS Med. 2008;5(12):e253. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050253. PMID:19265453.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGready R, Lee SJ, Wiladphaingern J, Ashley EA, Rijken MJ, Boel M, Simpson JA, Paw MK, Pimanpanarak M, Mu O, Singhasivanon P, White NJ, Nosten FH. Adverse effects of falciparum and vivax malaria and the safety of antimalarial treatment in earlypregnancy: a population-based study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2012;12(5):388–96. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70339-5. Epub 2011 Dec 12. PMID:22169409.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Menéndez C, Bardají A, Sigauque B, Romagosa C, Sanz S, Serra-Casas E, Macete E, Berenguera A, David C, Dobaño C, Naniche D, Mayor A, Ordi J, Mandomando I, Aponte JJ, Mabunda S, Alonso PL. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant women in the context of insecticide treated nets delivered through the antenatal clinic. PLoS One. 2008;3(4):e1934. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001934. PMID:18398460.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mutabingwa TK, Muze K, Ord R, Briceño M, Greenwood BM, Drakeley C, Whitty CJ. Randomized trial of artesunate + amodiaquine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine + amodiaquine, chlorproguanal-dapsone and SP for malaria in pregnancy in Tanzania. PLoS One. 2009;4(4):e5138. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005138. Epub 2009 Apr 8. PMID:19352498.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rulisa S, Kaligirwa N, Agaba S, Karema C, Mens PF, de Vries PJ. Pharmacovigilance of artemether-lumefantrine in pregnant women followed until delivery in Rwanda. Malar J. 2012;11:225. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-225. PMID:22770264.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schlagenhauf P, Blumentals WA, Suter P, Regep L, Vital-Durand G, Schaerer MT, Boutros MS, Rhein HG, Adamcova M. Pregnancy and fetal outcomes after exposure to mefloquine in the pre- and periconception period and during pregnancy. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;54(11):e124–31. doi:10.1093/cid/cis215. Epub 2012 Apr 10.PMID:22495078.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sivojelezova A, Einarson A, Shuhaiber S, Koren G, Motherisk Team. Trimethoprim-sulfonamide combination therapy in early pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 2003;49:1085–6. PMID:14526858.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tan KR, Magill AJ, Parise ME, Arguin PM, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doxycycline for malaria chemoprophylaxis and treatment: report from the CDC expert meeting on malaria chemoprophylaxis. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011;84(4):517–31. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0285. PMID:21460003.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vallely A, Vallely L, Changalucha J, Greenwood B, Chandramohan D. Intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy in Africa: what's new, what's needed? Malar J. 2007;6:16. Review. PMID:17306014.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winstanley P. The contribution of clinical pharmacology to antimalarial drug discovery and development. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2003;55(5):464–8. Review. PMID:12755808.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, CRESIB, Barcelona, Spain

    Esperança Sevene

  2. Servei de Farmacologia Clinica, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain

    Xavier Carné

Authors
  1. Esperança Sevene
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xavier Carné
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Esperança Sevene .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Heswall, United Kingdom

    Marcel Hommel

  2. Institut für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Peter G. Kremsner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Sevene, E., Carné, X. (2015). Control of Malaria During Pregnancy: Safety of Antimalarial Drugs. In: Hommel, M., Kremsner, P. (eds) Encyclopedia of Malaria. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8757-9_69-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8757-9_69-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-8757-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation