BrasseurPhilippeauteurautIRDAgnameyP.auteurautGayeO.auteurautVaillantM.auteurautTaylorW. R. J.auteurautOlliaroP. L.auteurauttextjournalArticletext/pdfborn digitalaccessBackground: There are no data on the long term use of an artemisinin combination treatment in moderate or high transmission areas of Africa. Methods and findings: Artesunate plus amodiaquine (AS+AQ) was used to treat slide-proven Plasmodium falciparum-infected patients of all ages in the Oussouye district, Casamance, Senegal, over a period of six years (2000 to 2005). Efficacy, by Kaplan Meier survival analysis (n = 966), and safety (adverse event rates, n = 752) were determined over 28 days. A weight-based dosing regimen was used for the loose tablets during 2000-2003 (n = 731) and a commercially available co-blister was used during 2004-2005 (n = 235). Annual crude (non PCR corrected) rates remained stable over the study period [range 88.5-96.7%; overall 94.6 (95% CI 92.9-95.9)]. Nine co-blister treated patients (0.9%) withdrew because of drug-related adverse events; seven had gastrointestinal complaints of whom two were hospitalized for vomiting. By Day 28, the mean total bilirubin (n = 72), AST (n = 94) and ALT (n = 95) values decreased. Three patients had Day 28 AST/ALT values > 40 < 200 IU/L. Changes in white cell counts were unremarkable (n = 87). Conclusion: AS+AQ in combination was highly efficacious and well-tolerated in this area and justifies the decision to use it as first line treatment. Long-term monitoring of safety and efficacy should continue.specialized052 6NIL_1NIL_1120071475-2875http://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:01004095910.1186/1475-2875-6-150IRD BondyF B010040959http://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010040959http://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2008/03/010040959.pdfAccès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD)IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes2008-03-312010-08-04fdi:010040959fre