Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine and Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine for the Chemoprevention of Malaria in Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in eastern and southern Africa: a double-blind three-arm randomised trial (the CHEMCHA trial)

Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) is one of the most common inherited disorders in the world: annually, 300,000 children are born with this disorder. Patients suffer repeated ill health and early mortality most often due to severe complications related to hypoxia often precipitated by febrile illnesses. In particular, children with SCA suffer severe complications and much higher mortality if hospitalised with malaria. Thus, in malaria endemic areas, all are prescribed malaria chemoprevention. However, current chemoprevention regimes are either difficult to adhere to or have sub-optimal efficacy. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) is showing promise to become the malaria chemoprevention agent of choice for children and pregnant women. However, DP lack the antimicrobial and antiflammatory properties of the current treatment (sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, SP), and there is some concern that other sick visits than malaria may increase if SP is replaced. At the end of the study, we shall have available comprehensive evidence on the efficacy, safety, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the two regimes and which will guide regional policy and national guidelines for preventing malaria in children with SCA.

Find more information on the project in the Project Bank of the Research Council of Norway. (external link)