Does Artesunate Prolong the Electrocardiograph QT Interval in Patients with Severe Malaria?

Richard J. Maude Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Katherine Plewes Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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M. Abul Faiz Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Josh Hanson Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Prakaykaew Charunwatthana Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Sue J. Lee Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Joel Tärning Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Emran Bin Yunus Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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M. Gofranul Hoque Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Mahatab Uddin Hasan Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Amir Hossain Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Niklas Lindegardh Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Nicholas P. J. Day Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Nicholas J. White Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Arjen M. Dondorp Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Several antimalarials can cause significant prolongation of the electrocardiograph QT interval, which can be associated with an increased risk of potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias. High doses of artemether and artemotil have been associated with QT prolongation in dogs, raising the possibility of a class effect with the artemisinin derivatives. Serial electrocardiograms were recorded, and QTc interval was calculated before and after administration of artesunate by intravenous injection in patients with severe falciparum malaria in Bangladesh. Of 21 adult patients with severe malaria enrolled, 8 (38%) died. The mean QTc interval was unaffected by bolus intravenous artesunate (2.4 mg/kg). In two patients, the QTc interval exceeded 0.5 seconds, but in both cases, an alternative explanation was plausible. No effect was observed on the JTc or PR interval, QRS width, blood pressure, or heart rate. Intravenous artesunate does not have significant cardiovascular effects in patients with severe falciparum malaria.

Author Notes

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