1Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences
2Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences
3Associate Professor, Department of PSM, Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences
4Demonstrator, Department of Biochemistry, Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur (C.G.), India
*Corresponding author: Prashant Nigam, Demonstrator, Department of Biochemistry, Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS), Bilaspur (C.G) - 495 009, India. Email id: nigam.prashant86@gmail.com
Online published on 9 September, 2013.
Several anti-malarial drugs are associated with adverse cardiovascular effects. There are a few reports available on the potential cardiac effects (QTc interval) of artesunate, which includes an increased risk of potentially ventricular arrhythmia. This study aimed to evaluate the electrocardiographic (ECG) Changes (QTc interval) in malaria patients treated with artesunate.
Total 32 (16 male & 16 female) patients with severe Falciparum malaria enrolled in medical ward, CIMS hospital Bilaspur (C.G) were selected. Electrocardiogram was recorded, and QTc interval was calculated before and after administration of three doses of artesunate given by intravenous injection in all patients who were positive for Falciparum malaria.
The mean QTc interval was not affected by intravenous artesunate (2.4 mg/kg) given at different time intervals (p>0.05). There was no significant effect observed on the JTc or PR interval, QRS width, blood pressure and heart rate. Intravenous artesunate does not have significant other cardiovascular effects in patients with severe Falciparum malaria.
Intravenous artesunate does not have significant cardiovascular effects in patients with falciparum malaria.
QT Interval, Plasmodium Falciparum, Artesunate
