Last Updated: 19/06/2024
Rational drug dosage for communicable diseases in Africa: clinical, epidemiological and pharmacogenetic approaches focusing on pregnant women and children
Objectives
The main aim of this project is to study exposure to antimalarial and antiretroviral drugs in pregnant women and in children <5 years in an Ugandan rural health and demographic surveillance site.
Malaria and HIV/AIDS are common diseases in sub Saharan Africa. Children < 5 years of age and pregnant women are vulnerable to these diseases. It is likely that genetic variants of drug transporters and metabolizing enzymes affect treatment response in children and pregnant women treated for HIV/AIDS or malaria. The data from this study will help to design useful dosing regimens for children <5 years of age and pregnant women. The role of the drug metabolizing enzymes CYPA4/5 for disposition of the antimalarial combination artemether /lumefantrine in pregnant women will be clarified and also an optimal dose. In children targeted dosing regimens of quinine and artemether/ lumefantrin will be evaluated and the role of genetic variants of drug transporters for occurrence of CNS-side effects studied. In HIV-treated children the role of genetic variants for variability in drug disposition will be investigated. In all studies blood samples for analyses of relevant drugs, genetics variants will be taken on filter paper and analyzed. This method of combined approach using genotyping/ phenotyping and easy-to-use reliable sampling techniques of dried blood spots on filter paper is unique way to understand variability in drug response and design targeted dosing strategies to optimize treatment for children and pregnant women.The data obtained from this project will help to design useful dosing regimens for these patients.
Jan 2012 — Dec 2014
$584,545
