CAM-AQ1 dihydrochloride (Miaquin, Camoquin) in the treatment of human malaria

ABSTRACT

1. A new drug has been introduced, bearing an experimental name CAM-AQ1, with a chemical formula of 4 (3-Diethylaminomethyl-4-hydroxyyanilino) -7-chloroquinoline dihydrochloride dihydrate, and at present being dispensed in 0.05 gm. light yellow tablets. It is also known as Miaquin in India and as Camoquin in America. It is believed that the name Camoquin will be preserved, and it will be dispensed in 0.20 gm. tablets. Available reports on the drug have been cited2. The procedure by which we conducted clinical tests with Camoquin is briefly discussed. One hundred twenty-eight malaria patients served as subjects of the experiment3. Experimental observations are lengthily discussed. In a nut-shell, there were 84 vivax patients and 44 falciparum cases. In the former group (vivax), febrile conditions and peripheral blood parasites in general turned out to be negative on the 3rd to 4th day after the administration of the drug. In the afebrile cases, particularly, the parasites disappeared on the second day. In the latter group (falciparum), febrile conditions disappeared on the 3rd to 5th day while the asexual parasites were not found on the 2nd-4th day--the sexual (crescent) parasites disappearing on the 9th to the 19th dayIt seems that the drug has very little effect on the crescents or none at all; while its effect on the vivax gametocytes is markedly obvious. In any event, Camoquin is decidedly effective on vivax and falciparum asexual forms. The role of immunity in malaria infection is shownTen and seven tenth percent of the Vivax Group and 2.3% of the Falciparum Group (4% particularly considering the Relapse Falciparum Sub-Group) suffered relapse. Considering both group together, out of 128 malaria subjects, 10 or 7.8% had suffered relapse in varying intervals up to present writing. No untoward effects of the drug on the patients was observed4. The experimental work abroad on Camoquin is briefly discussed, points in our present paper are concisely emphasized and pertinent comments thereon are offered. The practical use of Camoquin in the mass treatment of malaria cases in the field is pointed out. As this is merely a preliminary report, it is to be expected that it has limitations. (Summary)