Publication: Effect of artemether on electrocardiogram in severe falciparum malaria
Issued Date
1997-09-01
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ISSN
01251562
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2-s2.0-0031219224
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.28, No.3 (1997), 472-475
Suggested Citation
Juntra Karbwang, Prasart Laothavorn, Kom Sukontason, Tin Thiha, Wilaipun Rimchala, Kesara Na-Bangchang, Danai Bunnag Effect of artemether on electrocardiogram in severe falciparum malaria. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.28, No.3 (1997), 472-475. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/18098
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Title
Effect of artemether on electrocardiogram in severe falciparum malaria
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Abstract
The effect of intramuscular artemether (intramuscular loading dose of 160 mg, followed by 80 mg daily for another 6 doses), in comparison with that of quinine (intravenous infusion of loading dose of 20 mg/kg, followed by 10 mg/kg q 8 hourly for 7 days), on the electrocardiograph of severe falciparum malaria patients were investigated in 102 Thai patients (92 males, 10 females) admitted to Pra Pokklao Hospital, Chantaburi, southeast of Thailand. Fifty patients (19 with quinine and 31 with artemether) were eligible for ECG analysis. Hypotension was found significantly more common in the quinine group (13 vs 2 cases). Thirteen, 5 and 1 patients with quinine treatment, respectively, had tachycardia, non-specific T-wave change and QTc prolongation. No significant dysrhythmia was found despite high plasma quinine concentrations. Five patients died; their ECGs were not significantly different from those who survived. In the group with intramuscular artemether, 17 cases had tachycardia prior to artemether treatment. QTc prolongation and non-specific T-wave change were found in 2 and 6 cases. One patient had RBBB and second degree AV-block on Day 1, but returned to normal on Day 2. No other dysrhythmia or other significant changes in ECG tracing which would suggest any effect of artemether on cardiovascular system were observed.