Antiretrovirals as antimalarial agents

J Infect Dis. 2004 Dec 1;190(11):1998-2000. doi: 10.1086/425584. Epub 2004 Nov 3.

Abstract

Recent studies have indicated that antiretroviral protease inhibitors may affect outcome in malarial disease. We have investigated the antimalarial activities of 6 commonly used antiretroviral agents. Our data indicate that, in addition to the previously published effects on cytoadherence and phagocytosis, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 protease inhibitors saquinavir, ritonavir, and indinavir directly inhibit the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro at clinically relevant concentrations. These findings are particularly important in light of both the high rate of malaria and HIV-1 coinfection in sub-Saharan Africa and the effort to employ highly active antiretroviral therapy in these regions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Indinavir / pharmacology
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Ritonavir / pharmacology
  • Saquinavir / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Indinavir
  • Saquinavir
  • Ritonavir