TES of Chloroquine for Pv in the Philippines in 2016

In 2002, the Philippines changed its antimalarial drug policy to a combination treatment, CQ+SP as the 1st-line treatment and artemether-lumefantrine as the 2nd-line treatment. The DOH prescribed the use of an artemether-lumefantrine (AL) combination as the second-line drug, limiting its use only in the treatment of confirmed Plasmodium falciparum, until a further study on its efficacy was done before making it the first-line treatment. Consequently, AL became the first-line drug for falciparum malaria in the 2009 revised drug policy. The DOH in the past 6 years (2002-2007) adopted the use of AL in the highly endemic areas of the country and conducted therapeutic efficacy studies (TES) in 3 sentinel sites: Kalinga-Isabela, Palawan and several Mindanao provinces, showing 97-100% efficacy. Whereas CQ+SP showed variability and declining efficacy, results ranged from 70%-95% (CARAGA region). In Sultan Kudarat province, results in 2006-2007 showed 90% efficacy of CQ+SP and 96% for AL for falciparum malaria.

In the 2009 drug policy, chloroquine (CQ) remains the primary treatment for P. vivax malaria, with primaquine as an anti-relapse drug. Previous studies (1999-2005) elsewhere in the country have shown 100% efficacy of CQ or the CQ+PQ combination. Furthermore, in the 2013-2014 study, recurrence of parasitemia was observed in two of 75 enrolled patients in Palawan. This study updates the drug efficacy for P. vivax malaria in the country.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The general objective of this study is to assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of chloroquine for the treatment of P. vivax infections in Palawan province, the Philippines in 2016.

The specific objectives are:

1. To measure the clinical and parasitological efficacy of Chloroquine among patients aged between > 6 months and 59 years old suffering from vivax malaria, by determining the proportion of patients with Early Treatment Failure (ETF), Late Clinical Failure (LTF), Late Parasitological Failure (LPF), or with an Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR) as indicators of efficacy;
2. To evaluate the incidence of adverse events;
3. To formulate recommendations to enable the Department of Health to make informed decisions about the possible need for updating of the current national antimalarial treatment guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The design of this surveillance study is a one-arm, prospective evaluation of the clinical and parasitological response to directly observed treatment for vivax malaria. Individuals with vivax malaria who met the study inclusion criteria were enrolled, treated on-site with CQ+PQ, and monitored for a period of 28 days. The follow-up consisted of a fixed schedule of check-up visits and corresponding clinical and laboratory examinations. Study patients had been classified as therapeutic failures (early or late) or adequate responders based on the results of these assessments. The proportion of patients experiencing a therapeutic failure during the follow-up period had been used to estimate the efficacy of the study drug(s). Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis will also help distinguishes between a true recrudescence due to treatment failure and episodes of re-infection.

Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Malaria Microscopists were mobilized to recruit febrile patients (patients with body temperature ≥37.5 °C). Screened individuals were re-examined at the main health center for malaria symptoms, body temperature, and weight. All laboratory procedures and tests were carried out by trained staff.

STUDY AREA / SETTINGS. The study was conducted in the Rural Health Units (RHU) of Rizal, Bataraza, and Brookes Point. Several factors influenced the selection of sites: (a) adequate numbers of patients with symptomatic, P. vivax; (b) willingness and availability of the selected healthcare facility staff to participate in the trial and to support the work with laboratory space; (c) access of patients to the health facility for weekly follow-ups; and (d) willingness of the Municipality Health Officer (MHO), the nurse and a trained Medical Technologist to take responsibility for conducting the trial, and security.

STUDY PARTICIPANTS. The population of interest consisted of patients aged between > 6 months to 59 years old diagnosed with uncomplicated vivax malaria attending the study health clinic and having given, or whose parents or legal guardians have given informed consent for study inclusion and assent in children as appropriate.

SAMPLE SIZE. Treatment failure to CQ in the area being 0-5%, 5% has been chosen as the estimated therapeutic failure rate of the drug. At a confidence level of 95% and with precision around the estimate of 10%, 18 patients will be needed. With a 20% increase to allow losses to follow-up and withdrawals during the 28-day follow-up period, 22 patients need to be included. But in order for the sample to be representative, a minimum of 50 P. vivax patients need to be included and a maximum of 75 Plasmodium vivax were enrolled.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE. All individuals who consulted at the selected rural health units met the inclusion criteria and had none of the exclusion criteria included in the study.

DATA MANAGEMENT. The principal investigator has ensured that the study protocol is strictly adhered to throughout and that all data are collected and recorded correctly on the CRF. Laboratory and clinical data have been recorded on a daily basis in the CRF designed for the study. Data that are derived from source documents are consistent with the source documents or the discrepancies were explained. Any changes or corrections to a CRF were dated and explained and did not obscure the original entry. All CRF was checked for completeness. After the study was completed, data were entered into a database using double independent data entry. The data were stored in a computer database maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the national data legislation.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS. Participants were recruited after the study received favorable approval of the protocol, participant information sheet, and written informed consent form from RITM Institutional Review Board (IRB). The study document versions given written approval by the IRB were used. The study was carried out according to the ethical guidelines in the Declaration of Helsinki (version 2008), applicable guidelines of ICH-GCP (E6); and applicable regulations of the Department of Health, Manila. The participant's written informed consent was secured before enrolment and prior to initiating procedures specific to this study. For potential participants below 18 years old, this consent was obtained from the either parent or a legally accepted guardian. An independent witness was present during the process of obtaining informed consent from a participant or parents/legal guardian who was illiterate.