Inhaled Nitric Oxide and Cerebral Malaria: Basis of a Strategy for Buying Time for Pharmacotherapy
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
Abstract
There are approximately 225–600 million new malaria infections
worldwide annually, with severe and cerebral malaria representing
major causes of death internationally. The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the
host response in cerebral malaria continues to be elucidated, with numerous
known functions relating to the cytokine, endovascular and cellular
responses to infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Evidence from diverse
modes of inquiry suggests NO to be critical in modulating the immune
response and promoting survival in patients with cerebral malaria. This line
of investigation has culminated in the approval of 2 phase II randomized
prospective clinical trials in Uganda studying the use of inhaled NO as adjuvant
therapy in children with severe malaria. The strategy underlying both
trials is to use the sytemic antiinflammatory properties of inhaled NO to
“buy time” for chemical antiparasite therapy to lower the parasite load. This
article reviews the nexus of malaria and NO biology with a primary focus
on cerebral malaria in humans.
Description
Keywords
Inhaled nitric oxide, Cerebral malaria, Nitric oxide synthase, Plasmodium falciparum
Citation
Bergmark, B., Bergmark, R., De Beaudrap, P., Boum, Y., Mwanga-Amumpaire, J., Carroll, R., & Zapol, W. (2012). Inhaled nitric oxide and cerebral malaria: basis of a strategy for buying time for pharmacotherapy. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 31(12), e250-e254. DOI: 10.1097/INF.0b013e318266c113