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Chemosuppressive Field Trials in Thailand

III. THE SUPPRESSION OF Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax PARASITEMIAS BY A SULFADOXINE-PYRIMETHAMINE COMBINATION^*

Eliot J. Pearlman, Richard M. Lampe, Withoon Thiemanun AND Robert S. Kennedy

A chemosuppressive field trial in an area of Thailand with known chloroquineresistant falciparum malaria was undertaken to test the efficacy of the preparation sulfadoxine (S)-pyrimethamine (Py) in suppressing falciparum and vivax parasitemias. Seven hundred and forty-seven Thai villagers were randomly assigned to one of five study groups: sulfadoxine (1,000 mg)-pyrimethamine (50 mg) every 2 weeks [S-Py (high dose)]; sulfadoxine (500 mg)-pyrimethamine (25 mg) every 2 weeks [S-Py (low dose)]; diformyldapsone (400 mg)-pyrimethamine (25 mg) weekly [DFD-Py (high dose)]; diformyldapsone (200 mg)-pyrimethamine (12.5 mg) weekly [DFD-Py (low dose)]; and placebo. Six hundred and eight-eight study subjects (92%) completed the 26-week trial. Sulfadoxine (1,000 mg)-pyrimethamine (50 mg) given every 2 weeks was shown to be an effective chemosuppressive against both falciparum and vivax parasitemias, causing an eight-fold reduction in falciparum parasitemias, and an approximately three-fold reduction in vivax parasitemias. While the low dose S-Py group and the two DFD-Py groups were less effective than the high dose S-Py group in suppressing falciparum parasitemias, the high dose DFD-Py combination was as effective as the high dose S-Py combination in suppressing vivax parasitemias. There was no evidence of drug reactions. A discernible decrease in the leukocyte count was noted over a 6-month period in the high dose S-Py group.

Accepted for publication May 7, 1977.

^* This is contribution no. 1383 to the Army Research Program on Malaria.

Address reprint requests to: Director, U.S. Army Medical Component, AFRIMS, APO San Francisco 96346.

Present address: Division Surgeon, 3rd Armored Division, APO New York 09039.

Present address: Department of Pediatrics, William Beaumont General Hospital, El Paso, Texas 79920.