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Visceral Leishmaniasis in pregnancy and vertical transmission: A systematic literature review on the therapeutic orphans. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009650. [PMID: 34375339 PMCID: PMC8425569 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Reports on the occurrence and outcome of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in pregnant women is rare in published literature. The occurrence of VL in pregnancy is not systematically captured and cases are rarely followed-up to detect consequences of infection and treatment on the pregnant women and foetus. Methods A review of all published literature was undertaken to identify cases of VL infections among pregnant women by searching the following database: Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid Embase; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; World Health Organization Global Index Medicus: LILACS (Americas); IMSEAR (South-East Asia); IMEMR (Eastern Mediterranean); WPRIM (Western Pacific); ClinicalTrials.gov; and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Selection criteria included any clinical reports describing the disease in pregnancy or vertical transmission of the disease in humans. Articles meeting pre-specified inclusion criteria and non-primary research articles such as textbook, chapters, letters, retrospective case description, or reports of accidental inclusion in trials were also considered. Results The systematic literature search identified 272 unique articles of which 54 records were included in this review; a further 18 records were identified from additional search of the references of the included studies or from personal communication leading to a total of 72 records (71 case reports/case series; 1 retrospective cohort study; 1926–2020) describing 451 cases of VL in pregnant women. The disease was detected during pregnancy in 398 (88.2%), retrospectively confirmed after giving birth in 52 (11.5%), and the time of identification was not clear in 1 (0.2%). Of the 398 pregnant women whose infection was identified during pregnancy, 346 (86.9%) received a treatment, 3 (0.8%) were untreated, and the treatment status was not clear in the remaining 49 (12.3%). Of 346 pregnant women, Liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) was administered in 202 (58.4%) and pentavalent antimony (PA) in 93 (26.9%). Outcomes were reported in 176 pregnant women treated with L-AmB with 4 (2.3%) reports of maternal deaths, 5 (2.8%) miscarriages, and 2 (1.1%) foetal death/stillbirth. For PA, outcomes were reported in 88 of whom 4 (4.5%) died, 24 (27.3%) had spontaneous abortion, 2 (2.3%) had miscarriages. A total of 26 cases of confirmed, probable or suspected cases of vertical transmission were identified with a median detection time of 6 months (range: 0–18 months). Conclusions Outcomes of VL treatment during pregnancy is rarely reported and under-researched. The reported articles were mainly case reports and case series and the reported information was often incomplete. From the studies identified, it is difficult to derive a generalisable information on outcomes for pregnant women and babies, although reported data favours the usage of liposomal amphotericin B for the treatment of VL in pregnant women. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease with an estimated incidence of 50,000 to 90,000 cases in 2019. Women who are susceptible to becoming pregnant or those who are pregnant and lactating are regularly excluded from clinical studies of VL. A specific concern of public health relevance is the little knowledge of the consequences of VL and its treatment on the mother and the foetus. We did a systematic review of all published literature with an overarching aim of identifying cases of VL in pregnancy and assessing the risk-benefit balance of antileishmanial treatment to the pregnant women and the child. We identified a total of 72 records (1926–2020) describing 451 VL cases in pregnant women. In 398, infection was identified during pregnancy of whom 202 received Liposomal Amphotericin B (L-AmB) and 93 received pentavalent antimony (PA). In studies that reported maternal outcomes, reports of maternal death abortion/spontaneous abortion, and miscarriages were proportionally lower among those who received L-AmB compared to PA (no formal test of significance carried out). A total of 26 cases of confirmed, probable or suspected cases of vertical transmission were identified and the median time to detection was 6 months (range: 0–18 months). Our review brings together scattered observations of VL in pregnant women in the clinical literature and clearly highlights that the disease in pregnancy is under-reported and under-studied. The collated evidence derived mainly from case reports and case series indicate that L-AmB has a favourable safety profile than the antimony regimen and should be the preferred treatment for VL during pregnancy.
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Khan AA, Haines SJ. Claims of Safety in Neurosurgical Literature: We Shouldn't Call Something Safe Without Strong Justification. Neurosurgery 2021; 88:468-476. [PMID: 33440008 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many articles published in the neurosurgical literature make claims of safety regarding interventions. The strength of evidence supporting these claims has not been systematically evaluated. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality of evidence supporting claims of safety in the neurosurgery literature. METHODS The 14 neurosurgical journals listed in the Web of Science database with the highest impact factors for 2018 were included in the study. The titles and abstracts of all the articles published in these journals in 2018 were searched for the word "safety" and reviewed by 2 independent observers to identify those making a claim of safety and assess their evidence. RESULTS The search identified 323 articles, representing 5% of the articles published in the 14 searched journals in 2018. Of these, 114 (1.8% of all articles and 35% of the identified articles) were judged to make a claim of safety of a neurosurgical intervention. A total of 98 (86%) of the 114 articles making a safety claim were retrospective cohort studies. Patient cohort sizes ranged from 1 to 1565 (median of 34), leading to wide variations in the CIs for estimated complication rates. No article made a statement of the assumptions underlying its claim of safety. CONCLUSION Almost no articles that make claims of safety for neurosurgical interventions explicitly state the (1) patient population, (2) comparison intervention, nor (3) specific outcomes. To assure that claims of safety are supported by high-quality evidence, authors should address these elements early and systematically when designing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Alamgir Khan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Oumarou ZM, Lamine MM, Issaka T, Moumouni K, Alkassoum I, Maman D, Doutchi M, Alido S, Laminou IM. [Malaria infection during pregnancy in Niamey, Niger]. Pan Afr Med J 2020; 37:365. [PMID: 33796178 PMCID: PMC7992404 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.365.20034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction le paludisme chez la femme enceinte est un problème majeur de santé publique en Afrique. Il a des conséquences graves aussi bien sur la mère, le fœtus que le nouveau-né. Il est responsable d´un fort taux de morbi-mortalité maternelle et infantile. L´objectif de l´étude est de déterminer la prévalence de l´infection plasmodiale chez la femme enceinte, décrire ses signes cliniques et ses complications éventuelles, analyser les facteurs associés et proposer des mesures de prévention. Méthodes il s´agit d´une étude transversale, conduite du 1er juin au 30 novembre 2017 à la Maternité Issaka Gazobi (MIG) de Niamey. Le diagnostic a été fait par microscopie. Résultats deux cents quarante-neuf (249) femmes ont été incluses dans cette étude. La prévalence de l´infection plasmodiale était de 36,5% (IC95%; [30,6; 42,9]). La densité parasitaire moyenne était de 177 P/μl (DS: 121; [40; 800]). Toutes les infections étaient à P. falciparum. Un peu plus de soixante-treize pourcent (73,6%). Seules 26,4% (24/91) ont fait un paludisme non compliqué ; 9,6% (6/91) ont avorté ; 38,4% des nouveau-nés avaient un faible poids à la naissance et 26,51% (66/249) ont développé un paludisme congénital. Le taux de létalité était de 1,1% (1/91). Le traitement préventif intermittent (TPI) protège significativement contre le paludisme gestationnel (p=0,01). Conclusion l´infection des femmes enceintes par le P. falciparum est très fréquente au Niger. Ce portage est le plus souvent asymptomatique mais peut évoluer vers un paludisme non compliqué ou même sévère. Les principales conséquences sont l´avortement, le faible poids à la naissance, le retard de croissance intra utero, le paludisme congénital et le décès maternel. Le TPI et l´utilisation de la moustiquaire imprégnée d´insecticide à longue durée d´action (MILDA) permettent de prévenir l´infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zara Maman Oumarou
- Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Maternité Issaka Gazobi, Niamey, République du Niger
| | - Mahaman Moustapha Lamine
- Département de Parasitologie, Université Cheick Anta Diop, Dakar, République du Sénégal.,Unité de Paludologie-Entomologie Médicale, Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, Niamey, République du Niger
| | - Tahirou Issaka
- Département de Médecine, Faculté de Science de la Santé de l´Université Abdou Moumouni, Niamey, République du Niger
| | - Kamayé Moumouni
- Département de Médecine, Faculté de Science de la Santé de l´Université Abdou Moumouni, Niamey, République du Niger
| | - Ibrahim Alkassoum
- Département de Santé Publique, Faculté de Science de la Santé de l´Université Abdou Moumouni, Niamey, République du Niger
| | - Daou Maman
- Département de Médecine, Faculté de Science de la Santé de l´Université Abdou Moumouni, Niamey, République du Niger
| | - Mahamadou Doutchi
- Département de Médecine, Université de Zinder, Zinder, République du Niger
| | - Soumana Alido
- Département de Médecine, Faculté de Science de la Santé de l´Université Abdou Moumouni, Niamey, République du Niger
| | - Ibrahim Maman Laminou
- Unité de Paludologie-Entomologie Médicale, Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, Niamey, République du Niger
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Saito M, Briand V, Min AM, McGready R. Deleterious effects of malaria in pregnancy on the developing fetus: a review on prevention and treatment with antimalarial drugs. THE LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2020; 4:761-774. [PMID: 32946830 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(20)30099-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
All malaria infections are harmful to both the pregnant mother and the developing fetus. One in ten maternal deaths in malaria endemic countries are estimated to result from Plasmodium falciparum infection. Malaria is associated with a 3-4 times increased risk of miscarriage and a substantially increased risk of stillbirth. Current treatment and prevention strategies reduce, but do not eliminate, malaria's damaging effects on pregnancy outcomes. Reviewing evidence generated from meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and observational data, the first paper in this Series aims to summarise the adverse effects of malaria in pregnancy on the fetus and how the current drug treatment and prevention strategies can alleviate these effects. Although evidence supports the safety and treatment efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies in the first trimester, these therapies have not been recommended by WHO for the treatment of malaria at this stage of pregnancy. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is contraindicated in the first trimester and provides imperfect chemoprevention because of inadequate dosing, poor (few and late) antenatal clinic attendance, increasing antimalarial drug resistance, and decreasing naturally acquired maternal immunity due to the decreased incidence of malaria. Alternative strategies to prevent malaria in pregnancy are needed. The prevention of all malaria infections by providing sustained exposure to effective concentrations of antimalarial drugs is key to reducing the adverse effects of malaria in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Saito
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Advanced Clinical Research Center, The Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Valérie Briand
- Infectious Diseases in Lower Income Countries, Research Institute for Sustainable Development, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Aung Myat Min
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Rose McGready
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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D'Alessandro S, Menegola E, Parapini S, Taramelli D, Basilico N. Safety of Artemisinin Derivatives in the First Trimester of Pregnancy: A Controversial Story. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153505. [PMID: 32752056 PMCID: PMC7435965 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria both in adults and children. During pregnancy, ACT is considered safe only in the second and third trimester, since animal studies have demonstrated that artemisinin derivatives can cause foetal death and congenital malformation within a narrow time window in early embryogenesis. During this period, artemisinin derivatives induce defective embryonic erythropoiesis and vasculogenesis/angiogenesis in experimental models. However, clinical data on the safety profile of ACT in pregnant women have not shown an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital malformation, nor low birth weight, associated with exposure to artemisinins in the first trimester. Although further studies are needed, the evidence collected up to now is prompting the WHO towards a change in the guidelines for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria, allowing the use of ACT also in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D'Alessandro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Menegola
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Parapini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Donatella Taramelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Basilico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Saito M, Mansoor R, Kennon K, Anvikar AR, Ashley EA, Chandramohan D, Cohee LM, D'Alessandro U, Genton B, Gilder ME, Juma E, Kalilani-Phiri L, Kuepfer I, Laufer MK, Lwin KM, Meshnick SR, Mosha D, Muehlenbachs A, Mwapasa V, Mwebaza N, Nambozi M, Ndiaye JLA, Nosten F, Nyunt M, Ogutu B, Parikh S, Paw MK, Phyo AP, Pimanpanarak M, Piola P, Rijken MJ, Sriprawat K, Tagbor HK, Tarning J, Tinto H, Valéa I, Valecha N, White NJ, Wiladphaingern J, Stepniewska K, McGready R, Guérin PJ. Pregnancy outcomes and risk of placental malaria after artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in pregnancy: a WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis. BMC Med 2020; 18:138. [PMID: 32482173 PMCID: PMC7263905 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01592-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria in pregnancy, including asymptomatic infection, has a detrimental impact on foetal development. Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis was conducted to compare the association between antimalarial treatments and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including placental malaria, accompanied with the gestational age at diagnosis of uncomplicated falciparum malaria infection. METHODS A systematic review and one-stage IPD meta-analysis of studies assessing the efficacy of artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatments for patent microscopic uncomplicated falciparum malaria infection (hereinafter uncomplicated falciparum malaria) in pregnancy was conducted. The risks of stillbirth (pregnancy loss at ≥ 28.0 weeks of gestation), moderate to late preterm birth (PTB, live birth between 32.0 and < 37.0 weeks), small for gestational age (SGA, birthweight of < 10th percentile), and placental malaria (defined as deposition of malaria pigment in the placenta with or without parasites) after different treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria were assessed by mixed-effects logistic regression, using artemether-lumefantrine, the most used antimalarial, as the reference standard. Registration PROSPERO: CRD42018104013. RESULTS Of the 22 eligible studies (n = 5015), IPD from16 studies were shared, representing 95.0% (n = 4765) of the women enrolled in literature. Malaria treatment in this pooled analysis mostly occurred in the second (68.4%, 3064/4501) or third trimester (31.6%, 1421/4501), with gestational age confirmed by ultrasound in 91.5% (4120/4503). Quinine (n = 184) and five commonly used artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) were included: artemether-lumefantrine (n = 1087), artesunate-amodiaquine (n = 775), artesunate-mefloquine (n = 965), and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (n = 837). The overall pooled proportion of stillbirth was 1.1% (84/4361), PTB 10.0% (619/4131), SGA 32.3% (1007/3707), and placental malaria 80.1% (2543/3035), and there were no significant differences of considered outcomes by ACT. Higher parasitaemia before treatment was associated with a higher risk of SGA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.14 per 10-fold increase, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03 to 1.26, p = 0.009) and deposition of malaria pigment in the placenta (aOR 1.67 per 10-fold increase, 95% CI 1.42 to 1.96, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The risks of stillbirth, PTB, SGA, and placental malaria were not different between the commonly used ACTs. The risk of SGA was high among pregnant women infected with falciparum malaria despite treatment with highly effective drugs. Reduction of malaria-associated adverse birth outcomes requires effective prevention in pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Saito
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK.
- Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), Oxford, UK.
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Rashid Mansoor
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kalynn Kennon
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Elizabeth A Ashley
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Lao PDR
| | | | - Lauren M Cohee
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Umberto D'Alessandro
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Blaise Genton
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University Center of General Medicine and Public Health, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mary Ellen Gilder
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | | | - Linda Kalilani-Phiri
- Department of Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Irene Kuepfer
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Miriam K Laufer
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Khin Maung Lwin
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - Steven R Meshnick
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Victor Mwapasa
- Department of Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Norah Mwebaza
- Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Michael Nambozi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
| | | | - François Nosten
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - Myaing Nyunt
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Sunil Parikh
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Moo Kho Paw
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - Aung Pyae Phyo
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
- Myanmar-Oxford Clinical Research Unit, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Mupawjay Pimanpanarak
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | | | - Marcus J Rijken
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Woman and Baby, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kanlaya Sriprawat
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - Harry K Tagbor
- School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Joel Tarning
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Halidou Tinto
- Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Innocent Valéa
- Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Neena Valecha
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Nicholas J White
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jacher Wiladphaingern
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - Kasia Stepniewska
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rose McGready
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - Philippe J Guérin
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK.
- Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), Oxford, UK.
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Patson N, Mukaka M, Otwombe KN, Kazembe L, Mathanga DP, Mwapasa V, Kabaghe AN, Eijkemans MJC, Laufer MK, Chirwa T. Systematic review of statistical methods for safety data in malaria chemoprevention in pregnancy trials. Malar J 2020; 19:119. [PMID: 32197619 PMCID: PMC7085184 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03190-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug safety assessments in clinical trials present unique analytical challenges. Some of these include adjusting for individual follow-up time, repeated measurements of multiple outcomes and missing data among others. Furthermore, pre-specifying appropriate analysis becomes difficult as some safety endpoints are unexpected. Although existing guidelines such as CONSORT encourage thorough reporting of adverse events (AEs) in clinical trials, they provide limited details for safety data analysis. The limited guidelines may influence suboptimal analysis by failing to account for some analysis challenges above. A typical example where such challenges exist are trials of anti-malarial drugs for malaria prevention during pregnancy. Lack of proper standardized evaluation of the safety of antimalarial drugs has limited the ability to draw conclusions about safety. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to establish the current practice in statistical analysis for preventive antimalarial drug safety in pregnancy. METHODS The search included five databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Malaria in Pregnancy Library and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) to identify original English articles reporting Phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on anti-malarial drugs for malaria prevention in pregnancy published from January 2010 to July 2019. RESULTS Eighteen trials were included in this review that collected multiple longitudinal safety outcomes including AEs. Statistical analysis and reporting of the safety outcomes in all the trials used descriptive statistics; proportions/counts (n = 18, 100%) and mean/median (n = 2, 11.1%). Results presentation included tabular (n = 16, 88.9%) and text description (n = 2, 11.1%). Univariate inferential methods were reported in most trials (n = 16, 88.9%); including Chi square/Fisher's exact test (n = 12, 66.7%), t test (n = 2, 11.1%) and Mann-Whitney/Wilcoxon test (n = 1, 5.6%). Multivariable methods, including Poisson and negative binomial were reported in few trials (n = 3, 16.7%). Assessment of a potential link between missing efficacy data and safety outcomes was not reported in any of the trials that reported efficacy missing data (n = 7, 38.9%). CONCLUSION The review demonstrated that statistical analysis of safety data in anti-malarial drugs for malarial chemoprevention in pregnancy RCTs is inadequate. The analyses insufficiently account for multiple safety outcomes potential dependence, follow-up time and informative missing data which can compromise anti-malarial drug safety evidence development, based on the available data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel Patson
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mavuto Mukaka
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kennedy N Otwombe
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lawrence Kazembe
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Don P Mathanga
- University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Victor Mwapasa
- University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Marinus J C Eijkemans
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam K Laufer
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., HSF-1 Room 480, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Tobias Chirwa
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Saito M, Mansoor R, Kennon K, McGready R, Nosten F, Guérin PJ, Stepniewska K. Efficacy of artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatments for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in pregnancy: a protocol for systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e027503. [PMID: 31444179 PMCID: PMC6707703 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pregnant women are more vulnerable to malaria leading to adverse impact on both mothers and fetuses. However, knowledge on the efficacy and safety of antimalarials in pregnancy is limited by the paucity of randomised control trials and the lack of standardised protocols in this special subpopulation. Pooling individual patient data (IPD) for meta-analysis could address in part these limitations to summarise accurately the currently available evidence on treatment efficacy and risk factors for treatment failure. METHODS AND ANALYSIS To assess the treatment efficacy of artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatments for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in pregnancy, seven databases (Medline, Embase, Global Health, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science and Literatura Latino Americana em Ciências da Saúde) and two clinical trial registries (International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrial.gov) were searched. Both interventional and observational cohort studies following up for at least 28 days will be included. IPD of the identified eligible published or unpublished studies will be sought by inviting principal investigators. Raw IPD will be shared through the web-based secure platform developed by the WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network using the established methodology. The primary objective is to compare the risk of PCR-corrected treatment failure among different treatments and to find the risk factors. One-stage IPD meta-analysis by Cox model with shared frailty will be conducted. A risk of bias assessment will be conducted to address the impact of unshared potential data and of the quality of individual studies. Potential limitations include difficulty in acquiring the IPD and heterogeneity of the study designs due to the lack of standard. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This IPD meta-analysis consists of secondary analyses of existing anonymous data and meets the criteria for waiver of ethics review by the Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee. The results of this IPD meta-analysis will be disseminated through open-access publications at peer-reviewed journals. The study results will lead to a better understanding of malaria treatment in pregnancy, which can be used for clinical decision-making and conducting further studies. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42018104013.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Saito
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Disease and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rashid Mansoor
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Disease and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kalynn Kennon
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Disease and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rose McGready
- Centre for Tropical Disease and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - François Nosten
- Centre for Tropical Disease and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Philippe J Guérin
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Disease and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kasia Stepniewska
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Disease and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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9
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Saito M, Gilder ME, Nosten F, McGready R, Guérin PJ. Systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatments for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in pregnancy: methodological challenges. Malar J 2017; 16:488. [PMID: 29237461 PMCID: PMC5729448 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2135-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is no agreed standard method to assess the efficacy of anti-malarials for uncomplicated falciparum in pregnancy despite an increased risk of adverse outcomes for the mother and the fetus. The aim of this review is to present the currently available evidence from both observational and interventional cohort studies on anti-malarial efficacy in pregnancy and summarize the variability of assessment and reporting found in the review process. Methods Efficacy methodology and assessment of artemisinin-based treatments (ABT) and quinine-based treatments (QBT) were reviewed systematically using seven databases and two clinical trial registries (protocol registration—PROSPERO: CRD42017054808). Pregnant women in all trimesters with parasitologically confirmed uncomplicated falciparum malaria were included irrespective of symptoms. This review attempted to re-calculate proportions of treatment success applying the same definition as the standard WHO methodology for non-pregnant populations. Aggregated data meta-analyses using data from randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing different treatments were performed by random effects model. Results A total of 48 eligible efficacy studies were identified including 7279 treated Plasmodium falciparum episodes. While polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used in 24 studies for differentiating recurrence, the assessment and reporting of treatment efficacy was heterogeneous. When the same definition could be applied, PCR-corrected treatment failure of ≥ 10% at any time points was observed in 3/30 ABT and 3/7 QBT arms. Ten RCTs compared different combinations of ABT but there was a maximum of two published RCTs with PCR-corrected outcomes for each comparison. Five RCTs compared ABT and QBT. Overall, the risk of treatment failure was significantly lower in ABT than in QBT (risk ratio 0.22, 95% confidence interval 0.07–0.63), although the actual drug combinations and outcome endpoints were different. First trimester women were included in 12 studies none of which were RCTs of ABT. Conclusions Efficacy studies in pregnancy are not only limited in number but use varied methodological assessments. In five RCTs with comparable methodology, ABT resulted in higher efficacy than QBT in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Individual patient data meta-analysis can include data from observational cohort studies and could overcome some of the limitations of the current assessment given the paucity of data in this vulnerable group. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-017-2135-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Saito
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK. .,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK. .,Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand.
| | - Mary Ellen Gilder
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - François Nosten
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK.,Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - Rose McGready
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK.,Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - Philippe J Guérin
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
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