Post-artesunate delayed haemolysis ‒ report of four cases and review of the literature (original) (raw)

Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Review article: Biomedical intelligence

Vol. 145 No. 4546 (2015)

Summary

As a result of a huge effort of the international community, the burden of malaria dropped impressively during the last decade. One of the reasons is probably the availability of effective and safe treatments such as artemisinin derivatives. However, along with the greater use of intravenous artesunate recently in severe malaria, as recommended by the World Health Organization, a new adverse event has been described: post-artesunate delayed haemolysis (PADH). It appears after the end of the treatment in a phase of clinical improvement. Even though several causes may act as co-factors, the mechanism of pitting of the infected erythrocytes is most probably the main explanation. After the description of four PADH cases, we hereby present a short review of the current knowledge on this problem.

References

  1. World Health Organization. Malaria report. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2014.
  2. World Health Organization: From malaria control to elimination in the WHO European region 2006–2015. Regional office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark; 2006.
  3. Bruneel F, Tubach F, Corne P, Megarbane B, Mira J-P, Peytel E, et al. Severe imported falciparum malaria: a cohort study in 400 critically ill adults. PloS One 2010;5:e13236
  4. Robert Koch Institut: Reiseassoziierte Infektionskrankheiten 2010. Epidemiologisches Bulletin. 2011;40:371–8. German.
  5. World Health Organization: Guidelines for the treatment of malaria, second edition. Geneva, Switzerland; 2010.
  6. Dondorp A, Nosten F, Stepniewska K, Day N, White N, South East Asian Quinine Artesunate Malaria Trial, group. Artesunate versus quinine for treatment of severe falciparum malaria: a randomised trial. Lancet. 2005;366:717–25.
  7. Dondorp AM, Fanello CI, Hendriksen ICE, Gomes E, Seni A, Chhaganlal KD, et al. Artesunate versus quinine in the treatment of severe falciparum malaria in African children: an open-label, randomised trial. Lancet. 2010;376:1647–57.
  8. Sinclair D, Donegan S, Isba R, Lallo DG. Artesunate versus quinine for treating severe malaria. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; 6:CD005967.
  9. Clark RL1 Hypothesized cause of delayed hemolysis associated with intravenous artesunate. Med Hypotheses. 2014;82(2):167–70.
  10. Rolling T, Schmiedel S, Wichmann D, Wittkopf D, Burchard GD, Cramer JP. Post-treatment haemolysis in severe imported malaria after intravenous artesunate: case report of three patients with hyperparasitaemia. Malaria J. 2012;11:169.
  11. Rehman K1, Lötsch F2, Kremsner PG3, Ramharter M4. Haemolysis associated with the treatment of malaria with artemisinin derivatives: a systematic review of current evidence. Int J Infect Dis. 2014;29C:268–73.
  12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published reports of delayed HA after treatment with artesunate for severe malaria. Atlanta, USA: CDC; 2013.
  13. Jauréguiberry S, Ndour PA, Roussel C, Ader F, Safeukui I, Nguyen M, et al. French Artesunate Working Group. Postartesunate delayed hemolysis is a predictable event related to the lifesaving effect of artemisinins. Blood. 2014;124(2):167–75.
  14. Burri C, Ferrari G, Ntuku HM, Kitoto AT, Duparc S, Hugo P, Mitembo DK, Lengeler C.Delayed Anemia after Treatment with Injectable Artesunate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Manageable Issue.Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014;91(4):821–3.
  15. Rolling T, Agbenyega T, Issifou S, Adegnika AA, Sylverken J, Spahlinger D, et al. Delayed hemolysis after treatment with parenteral artesunate in African children with severe malaria – a double-center prospective study. J Infect Dis. 2014;209(15):1921–8.
  16. Chotivanich K, Udomsangpetch R, McGready R, Proux S, Newton P, Pukrittaya- kamee S, et al. Central role of the spleen in malaria parasite clearance. J Infect Dis. 2002;185(10):1538–41.
  17. Angus BJ, Chotivanich K, Udomsangpetch R, White NJ. In vivo removal of malaria parasites from red blood cells without their destruction in acute falciparum malaria. Blood. 1997;90:2037–40.
  18. MMV. Experts Group Meeting on delayed anaemia following treatment with injectable artesunate. Wien, Austria; 2013. http://www.mmv.org/sites/default/files/uploads/docs/event/2013/InjectableArtesunateExpertGroupMeeting.pdf.
  19. Robert L. Clark Effects of Artemisinins on Reticulocyte Count and Relationship to Possible Embryotoxicity in Confirmed and Unconfirmed Malarial Patients. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2012;94(2):61–75.
  20. Zoller T, Junghanss T, Kapaun A, Gjorup I, Richter J, Hugo-Persson M, et al. Intravenous artesunate for severe malaria in travelers, Europe. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011;17:771–7.
  21. Raffray L, Receveur MC, Beguet M, Lauroua P, Pistone T, Malvy D1. Severe delayed autoimmune haemolytic anaemia following artesunate administration in severe malaria: a case report. Malar J. 2014;13:398.
  22. Caramello P, Balbiano R, De Blasi T, Chiriotto M, Deagostini M, Calleri G. Severe malaria, artesunate and haemolysis. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2012;67:2053–4.
  23. Jarvis JN, Coltart CE, Pule M, Chiodini PL, Doherty T. Artemisinin therapy and severe delayed haemolysis. Lancet. 2013;382:180.
  24. Kurth F, Kurth F, Develoux M, Mechain M, Clerinx J, Antinori S, et al. Intravenous Artesunate Reduces Parasite Clearance Time, Duration of Intensive Care, and Hospital Treatment in Patients With Severe Malaria in Europe: The TropNet Severe Malaria Study. Clin Infect Dis. 2015 Jul 17. pii: civ575. [Epub ahead of print]

Most read articles by the same author(s)