Intravenous ibuprofen (IV-ibuprofen) controls fever effectively in adults with
acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria but prolongs parasitemia.
Author(s): Krudsood S, Tangpukdee N, Wilairatana P, Pothipak N, Duangdee C, Warrell DA,
Looareesuwan S.
Affiliation(s): Department of Tropical Hygiene, Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine,
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University,
Bangkok, Thailand.
Publication date & source: 2010, Am J Trop Med Hyg. , 83(1):51-5
Because some febrile patients are unable to swallow or retain oral antipyretic
drugs, we carried out a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which
intravenous ibuprofen (IV-ibuprofen) was given to adults hospitalized with fever
associated with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria treated with oral
artesunate plus mefloquine. Thirty patients received IV-ibuprofen 400 mg and 30
received placebo every 6 hours for 72 hours. Reduction in the area above 37.0
degrees C versus time curve was significantly greater for IV-ibuprofen than for
placebo during the first 72 hours after first administration. No patients
developed severe malaria; parasite clearance was delayed in the patients whose
fevers were controlled by IV-ibuprofen (median 37.3 hours versus 23.7 hours in
the placebo group [P = 0.0024]). This difference did not appear to be clinically
important Adverse events, none considered severe, occurred equally in both
groups. IV-ibuprofen was effective and well tolerated in reducing fever in
febrile inpatients with malaria.
|