Interactions between malaria and HIV drugs in people living with HIV

Several African countries are heavily affected by both HIV/AIDS and malaria. The World Health Organization and ministries of health in most endemic countries recommend the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for malaria and antiretroviral combination treatments (ART) for HIV/AIDS, and such treatments have become increasingly available.

The interactions that can happen in the body between HIV and malaria drugs are potentially clinically significant, but this has not been adequately defined in people living with HIV.

The research analyses pharmacokinetic drug interactions, meaning the changes to malaria or HIV drug concentrations in the bodies of patients who are taking more than one type of medication.

The study was conducted in two phases. The first looked at the interaction between first-line HIV and malaria drugs in patients infected with HIV: one group already taking the most widely used first-line antiretroviral drug combination, and the other group not taking any antiretrovirals. The second phase compared drug interactions of the same first line ACT, with the most widely used second-line antiretroviral drugs.

Drug-based Strategies
Impact of Interventions

Jun 2008 — Jan 2016

South Africa