Introduction. Hematological alterations are frequent in malaria patients; the relationship between alterations in white blood cell counts and clinical status in malaria is not well understood. In Colombia, with low endemicity and unstable transmission for malaria, with malaria vivax predominance, the hematologic profile in malaria patients is not well characterized. The aim of this study was to characterize the leukogram in malaria patients and to analyze its alterations in relation to the clinical status. Methods. 888 leukogram profiles of malaria patients from different Colombian regions were studied: 556 with P. falciparum infection (62.6%), 313 with P. vivax infection (35.2%), and 19 with mixed infection by these species (2.1%). Results. Leukocyte counts at diagnosis were within normal range in 79% of patients and 18% had leucopenia; the most frequent alteration was lymphopenia (54%) followed by monocytosis (11%); the differential granulocyte count in 298 patients revealed eosinophilia (15%) and high basophil counts (8%). Leukocytosis, eosinopenia, and neutrophilia were associated with clinical complications. The utility of changes in leukocyte counts as markers of severity should be explored in depth. A better understanding of these hematological parameters will allow their use in prompt diagnosis of malaria complications and monitoring treatment response.

In Colombia, published studies for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax malaria with chloroquine-primaquine (CQ-PQ) are scarce. The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of this combination. A clinical trial was performed in adults with uncomplicated P. vivax malaria using the 28-day World Health Organization validated protocol. Patients received supervised antimalarial treatment and the primary efficacy end point was the clinical and parasitological response. Safety was assessed through adverse events surveillance, and plasma levels of antimalarial drugs were measured. A total of 77 patients were included. Adequate clinical and parasitological response rate diagnosed by thick blood smear examination was achieved in 72 of 73 patients (98.6%) with a complete 28-day follow-up. There were two parasitological therapeutic failures (TFs) (2.9%) on day 28, established by polymerase chain reaction among 68 patients, one of them with a positive film. No adverse events were detected. After completing the antimalarial treatment, all patients reached adequate plasma concentrations of CQ and desethylchloroquine (DECQ), with medians of 302.9 and 104.0 ng/mL, respectively. Uncomplicated P. vivax malaria treatment with CQ-PQ standard treatment was effective and safe in the study population; TFs were not associated with low plasma levels of CQ and DECQ.

Introduction: In Colombia, the published studies for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria with Artemether-Lumefantrine are scarce. The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of this combination.Methods: A clinical trial was performed in adults with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria using the 28-day World Health Organization validated protocol. Patients received supervised antimalarial treatment and the primary efficacy endpoint was the clinical and parasitological response. Safety was assessed through adverse events surveillance and plasmatic levels of antimalarial drugs were measured.Results: 88 patients were included. Adequate clinical and parasitological response rate of 100% on day 28 was achieved in 84 patients, diagnosed by thick blood smear examination. There were four parasitological therapeutic failures (5%) detected by polymerase chain reaction.Discusion: Therapeutic efficacy similar to previous studies was established with a slight increase in therapeutic failure. The serum levels of the antimalarials were adequate and the few cases of therapeutic failure were not related.Conclusion: Treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria with Artemeter-Lumefantrine was effective and safe in the study population. All patients reached adequate plasma concentrations of the drugs; therapeutic failures were not associated with low blood levels of the drug clinical trial.