Abstract

COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF ARTHEMETHER – LUMEFANTRINE AND ARTESUNATE – AMODIAQUINE ON CREATININE AND LIVER ENZYMES IN PATIENTS ATTENDING FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER UMUAHIA (FMC), ABIA STATE.

Irinmwinuwa Omo Eric*, Onyekwuo Chinonye Festa, Ibewuike Julia Chioma, Onia Orinate Peter and Okoroukwu Victor Ndubisi

ABSTRACT

Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito that leads to acute life-threatening disease and poses a significant global health threat. It is transmitted through the bite of the infected female Anopheles mosquito. The study aimed to compare the effect of arthemether – lumefantrine (AL) and artesunate – amodiaquine (AA) on creatinine and liver enzymes of uncomplicated malaria in patients attending Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. Four hundred and four patients were recruited from those who were clinically diagnosed of uncomplicated malaria amongst those who visited the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia. Sample size was calculated using Cochran‟s formula. The following laboratory procedures were carried out: creatinine, serum alanine aminotransferase assay, aspartate aminotransferase. The effect of Artemether-lumefantrine and Artesunate-Amodiaquine was assessed using creatinine, biochemical assays was used to assess the effects liver enzymes. Results of creatinine showed there were no signification reduction of creatinine at (p>0.05) there were no comparable significant difference for day 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 of AA and AL. Also, for AST on day 0, 7, and 14 there were no signification reduction of AST at (p>0.05). Moreover for ALT on day 0, 7 and 14, generally, there was no statistical significant reduction of ALT and as such (p>0.05) for day 0, 3, 7, 14 of AA and AL with p=0.0001 for all the days. It can be concluded that AL and AA had no comparable statistical difference on creatinine and liver enzymes, their effects were the same. It is therefore recommended that further studies should be carried out to examine more ACT combinations, thus comparing their effect on other kidney and liver biomarkers in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria infection.

Keywords: Packed cell volume, Liver, Malaria, Arthemether – Lumefantrine, and Artesunate – amodiaquine .