Debashish DasRupam TripuraAung Pyae PhyoKhin Maung LwinJoel TarningSue J. LeeWarunee HanpithakpongKasia StepniewskaDidier MenardPascal RingwaldKamolrat SilamutMallika ImwongKesinee ChotivanichPoravuth YiNicholas P.J. DayNiklas LindegardhDuong SocheatChea NguonNicholas J. WhiteFrançois NostenArjen M. DondorpMahidol UniversityShoklo Malaria Research UnitNuffield Department of Clinical MedicineWorldWide Antimalarial Resistance NetworkNational Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria ControlInstitut Pasteur du CambodgeOrganisation Mondiale de la Sante2018-10-192018-10-192013-02-18Clinical Infectious Diseases. Vol.56, No.5 (2013)15376591105848382-s2.0-84873656674https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/32481Background. The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinins on the Cambodian and Myanmar-Thai borders poses severe threats to malaria control. We investigated whether increasing or splitting the dose of the short-half-life drug artesunate improves parasite clearance in falciparum malaria in the 2 regions.Methods. In Pailin, western Cambodia (from 2008 to 2010), and Wang Pha, northwestern Thailand (2009-2010), patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were randomized to oral artesunate 6 mg/kg/d as a once-daily or twice-daily dose for 7 days, or artesunate 8 mg/kg/d as a once-daily or twice-daily dose for 3 days, followed by mefloquine. Parasite clearance and recrudescence for up to 63 days of follow-up were assessed.Results. A total of 159 patients were enrolled. Overall median (interquartile range [IQR]) parasitemia half-life (half-life) was 6.03 (4.89-7.28) hours in Pailin versus 3.42 (2.20-4.85) hours in Wang Pha (P =. 0001). Splitting or increasing the artesunate dose did not shorten half-life in either site. Pharmacokinetic profiles of artesunate and dihydroartemisinin were similar between sites and did not correlate with half-life. Recrudescent infections occurred in 4 of 79 patients in Pailin and 5 of 80 in Wang Pha and was not different between treatment arms (P =. 68).Conclusions. Increasing the artesunate treatment dose up to 8 mg/kg/d or splitting the dose does not improve parasite clearance in either artemisinin resistant or more sensitive infections with P. falciparum.Clinical Trials Registration. ISRCTN15351875. © 2012 The Author.Mahidol UniversityMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.1093/cid/cis958