The effect of antimalarials on reticulocyte count of patients with falciparum malaria

ABSTRACT

One hundred and eleven adult patients who attended North Okkalapa General Hospital for uncomplicated falciparum malaria were chosen for the study. They were treated with dihydroartemisinine (Cetexin), quinine, artesunate tablets and artemether injection. Fifty nine adult male and female without malaria were chosen as controls. They were treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, quinine and artesunate. Thick and thin blood films were taken from the patients daily and were stained and counted for malaria parasites. Packed cell volume (PCV), WBC count and reticulocyte count were also done. Among the patients treated with drugs, there was a significant fall in the mean reticulocyte count (number concentration and number fraction) at day 3. But the reticulocytes were raised back to normal at days 7 and 14. There was no significant changes in the mean packed cell volume (PCV) and mean level of total WBC count of the patients in all 4 groups. Among normal controls treated with artesunate tablets, there was also a significant fall in the mean reticulocyte count at day 3 but the mean reticulocytes count was also raised back to normal at days 7 and 14. Among normal controls treated with quinine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine tablets, there was no significant fall in the mean reticulocyte count. And there was no significant changes in PCV and WBC count in all 3 groups of controls. The fall in reticulocyte counts can be due to part of the disease malaria as well as to the drug including quinine and not singly to artemisinine therapy alone.