Evaluation of the effects of lumefantrine component of coartem on electrical conductivity of the heart in patients taking coartem in management of uncomplicated malaria in KIU-th Bushenyi district
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Date
2015-02
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Kampala international international: School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Background: Approximately 2.37 billion people Jive in areas at risk for transmission Of pfalciparum malaria, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa (Hay, et al., 2009). Combination Artemether/Lumefantrine (Coartem, Riamet, and Falcynate-LF) is a fixed dose Artemisininbased combination therapy (ACT) indicated for the treatment of acute uncomplicated Plasmodium Jalciparum malaria. It is an effective and well tolerated treatment providing high cure rates even in areas with multi-drug resistance. Cardiac effect on electrical conductivity in terms of QTc prolongation and arrhythmias remains a matter of worry (Lefevre, et al., 2001).
Aim: Several unrelated drugs have pro-arrhythmic activity associated with an ability to prolong the QTinterval of the Electrocardiogram just as proved for Halofantrine (Nosten, et al., 1993).
Lumefantrine has some chemical similarities to Halofantrin, (Jatakiya,et al.,2014),an antimalarial known for QTc prolongation and due to their structural similarities, also the cardiac effect on electrical
conductivity of the heart by Lumefantrine remains a matter of debate in therapeutics. This research aimed at evaluating the effects of Lumefantrine component of coartem on electrical conductivity of the heart in patients taking coartem in management of malaria in KIU-TH Bushenyi District. Method: The research was a quantitative prospective random study. Safety assessment was done by monitoring vital signs, blood pressure, Heart rate and monitoring of Electrical conductivity. Electrocardiograms were recorded before dosing and after the fifth dose. The QT interval and Heart rate were used to calculate QTc interval using Bazett's formula QTc=QT/RR112.The QTc interval as the response variable was compared between treatments. Results; In the baseline electrocardiograms the QTc intervals were normal There was no clinically relevant differences in the QTc intervals observed after sequential administration Of Artemether/Lumefantrine(Coartem). No significant observation suggestive of cardiotoxicity was noted in the study. Conclusion; The alternative hypothesis stating that Artemether /Lumefantrine possesses significant effect on electrical conductivity of the heart has not been supported by the results obtained in this study. Artemether/Lumefantrine can be used as a therapeutic option with likely better
Description
A research report submitted to the school of pharmacy in partial Fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree of Bachelor of pharmacy of Kampala international University, Uganda
Keywords
Pharmacy, Effects, Electrical conductivity, Lumefantrine component, Coartem, Heart patients, Malaria, Buhenyi district