Population pharmacokinetics of mefloquine in patients with acute falciparum malaria

Abstract

Objective: To construct a population pharmacokinetic model for mefloquine in the treatment of falciparum malaria. Background: Mefloquine is the treatment of choice for multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria. The factors that influence the pharmacokinetic properties of mefloquine in acute malaria are not well characterized. Methods: The pharmacokinetic properties of mefloquine were evaluated in 257 patients with acute falciparum malaria by use of nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Two different oral dose regimens were used: (1) a split dose of 15 mg base/kg initially followed by 10 mg/kg 24 hours later (n = 159) and (2) a single dose of 25 mg/kg (n = 98). Mefloquine was combined with artesunat..