Chloroquine Population Pharmacokinetics in Pre and Post-partum Women

For the treatment of P.vivax the standard treatment is chloroquine. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that pregnant women may require different doses of drugs, including antimalarials, due to the physiological changes of pregnancy. It is important that any drug used in pregnant women is given at the correct dose. The only way to evaluate this is by pharmacokinetic studies. We propose to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of chloroquine when use to treat P.vivax in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The same evaluation in the same woman post-partum is required as a control.

The two most recent pharmacokinetic publications conclude differently on chloroquine dosing in pregnant women: one suggests no dose adjustment and the other that a higher dose is probably needed. It is crucial that pregnant women are dosed correctly to maximise cure and minimize the chance for recurrence and the harmful effects of malaria. The proposed study on the pharmacokinetics of chloroquine treatment in pregnant women will solve this dilemma.

Pregnant women on the Thai-Burmese border are encouraged to attend antenatal care often for early detection and treatment of malaria. Low birth weight due to P.vivax affects primigravida and multigravida, not just primarily primigravida as with P.falciparum(highlighted in the attached reference). Hence it is important to consider these women for radical cure. This is not possible during pregnancy as primaquine is contraindicated so the next best time is in the post-partum period. During the post-partum period the woman remains in close contact with midwives for infant care and for their personal health. The midwives also have a record of malaria attacks during pregnancy.

We know more about chloroquine than any other antimalarial used in pregnancy. It has been widely used for prevention and treatment of malaria in pregnancy and in women with autoimmune disease such systemic lupus and rheumatoid arthritis high doses of hydroxychloroquine have been given daily including during the first trimester of pregnancy. Although data from prospective clinical trials of malaria are limited, this drug is considered safe in all trimester of pregnancy and in lactation.

For treatment of uncomplicated P.vivax WHO recommends chloroquine and primaquine where P.vivax remains chloroquine sensitive. A 14 day course of primaquine is recommended for radical cure of P.vivax. WHO advises not to use primaquine during pregnancy or in severe G6PD. WHO permits the use of primaquine during lactation if the breast fed infant is not G6PD deficient.

The possibility that women with recurrent P.vivax in the same pregnancy may have chloroquine resistant P.vivax needs to be considered. While the combination of chloroquine and primaquine cannot be used in pregnancy and the safety and efficacy of ACTs are still undergoing evaluation we need to explore alternatives to chloroquine for such cases. ACTs are recommended for chloroquine resistant P.vivax by WHO and one ACT considered safe in pregnancy and lactation is a 7 day course of artesunate-clindamycin.