Molecular Markers for Failure of Sulfadoxine‐Pyrimethamine and Chlorproguanil‐Dapsone Treatment of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

Citations Over TimeTop 1% of 2002 papers

Abstract

Molecular assays for monitoring sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum have not been implemented because of the genetic and statistical complexity of the parasite mutations that confer resistance and their relation to treatment outcomes. This study analyzed pretreatment dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) genotypes and treatment outcomes in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and chlorproguanil-dapsone treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify mutations that were predictive of treatment failure and to identify interactions and confounding factors. Infections caused by parasites with 3 DHFR mutations and 2 DHPS mutations (the "quintuple mutant") were associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine treatment failure but not with chlorproguanil-dapsone treatment failure. The presence of a single DHFR mutation (Arg-59) with a single DHPS mutation (Glu-540) accurately predicted the presence of the quintuple mutant. If this model is validated in other populations, it will finally be possible to use molecular markers for surveillance of antifolate-resistant P. falciparum malaria in Africa.

Related Papers

• Plasmodium falciparum in Haiti: susceptibility to pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.(1984)
• → Efficacy of Fansidar® Against Plasmodium Falciparum in Continuous Culture(1982)9 cited
• In vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum collected from pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine sensitive and resistant areas in Thailand.(1985)
• Effectiveness of chloroquine and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine combination in the treatment of falciparum malaria in a malaria endemic area of Kenya(1998)