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Malaria Journal
Published in: Malaria Journal 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Review

Rationale for recommending a lower dose of primaquine as a Plasmodium falciparum gametocytocide in populations where G6PD deficiency is common

Authors: Nicholas J White, Li Guo Qiao, Gao Qi, Lucio Luzzatto

Published in: Malaria Journal | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

In areas of low malaria transmission, it is currently recommended that a single dose of primaquine (0.75 mg base/kg; 45 mg adult dose) be added to artemisinin combination treatment (ACT) in acute falciparum malaria to block malaria transmission. Review of studies of transmission-blocking activity based on the infectivity of patients or volunteers to anopheline mosquitoes, and of haemolytic toxicity in glucose 6-dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient subjects, suggests that a lower primaquine dose (0.25 mg base/kg) would be safer and equally effective. This lower dose could be deployed together with ACTs without G6PD testing wherever use of a specific gametocytocide is indicated.
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Metadata
Title
Rationale for recommending a lower dose of primaquine as a Plasmodium falciparum gametocytocide in populations where G6PD deficiency is common
Authors
Nicholas J White
Li Guo Qiao
Gao Qi
Lucio Luzzatto
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Malaria Journal / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2875
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-418

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