Leucopenia and abnormal liver function in travellers on malaria chemoprophylaxis
Stürchler, D.; Schär, M.; Gyr, N.
Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 90(5): 239-243
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-5304 PMID: 3669125 Document Number: 461
Of 2887 travellers between the years 1984-1985, 451 on prophylactic antimalarials were studied retrospectively for adverse haematological or hepatic drug reactions and compared to 296 drug non-users. Travellers using amodiaquine, chloroquine, or pyrimethamine for < 10 weeks had significantly lower total leucocyte counts than non-users. This was due to diminution of lymphocytes, not neutrophils. Travellers using amodiaquine for < 10 weeks also had significantly higher serum aspartate aminotransferase (SGPT) levels than non-users. Amodiaquine was associated with a 3.1-times increased risk (95% confidence limits 1.8-5.4) of abnormal SGPT values. We consider toxic products, including metabolites of amodiaquine, the most likely cause of amodiaquine-related hepatotoxicity in travellers.
Document emailed within 1 workday
