Abstract:

　AIM: To observe the efficacy of artemether compound against vivax malaria. METHODS: Each artemether compound tablet contains 120 mg benflumetolum and 20 mg artemether.132 patients with vivax malaria were divided into 3 groups.Group A,36 patients received 8 tablets as an initial dose,followed by 4 tablets daily for 2 days;group B,41 patients received 8 tablets as an initial dose, followed by 3 tablets daily for 4 days;group C,55 patients receiving chloroguine primaquine served as control.Two patients of group A were voluntarily to be bitten by Anopheles dirus before and after medication to observe the influence of artemether compound on the sporogony. RESULTS: The average defervescence times for groups A,B and C were 22.3 h、23.2 h and 25.0 h( P >0.05),respectively,the average parasite clearance times were 33.5 h、30.5 h and 44.9 h,respectively,the average parasite clearance times of groups A and B were all significantly shorter than that of group C ( P <0.01).The replase rates of groups A,B and C were 84.9%、78.8% and 22.9%, respectively,followed up at nine months,the relapse rates of groups A and B were higer than that of group C( P <0.01). CONCLUSION: Two regimens of artemether compound have the advantage of high efficacy against vivax malaria.

Key words: Artemether compound, vivax malaria, efficacy, relapse