Intermittent screening using ultra-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Kinshasa, DRC

Abstract Background The declining effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) due to the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance highlights the need for alternative malaria prevention strategies in pregnant women. A novel approach wa...

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Main Authors: Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo, Flory Luzolo Khote, Melissa Kabena, Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko, Thierry Kalonji-Mukendi, Landrine Luzolo, Henk D. F. H. Schallig, Kassoum Kayentao, Petra F. Mens, Pascal Lutumba, Halidou Tinto, Vivi Maketa
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:Malaria Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05260-6
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author Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo
Flory Luzolo Khote
Melissa Kabena
Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko
Thierry Kalonji-Mukendi
Landrine Luzolo
Henk D. F. H. Schallig
Kassoum Kayentao
Petra F. Mens
Pascal Lutumba
Halidou Tinto
Vivi Maketa
author_facet Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo
Flory Luzolo Khote
Melissa Kabena
Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko
Thierry Kalonji-Mukendi
Landrine Luzolo
Henk D. F. H. Schallig
Kassoum Kayentao
Petra F. Mens
Pascal Lutumba
Halidou Tinto
Vivi Maketa
author_sort Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The declining effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) due to the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance highlights the need for alternative malaria prevention strategies in pregnant women. A novel approach was proposed: screening with an ultra-sensitive rapid diagnostic test and treating positive with pyronaridine-artesunate (ISTp-uRDT-PA). This trial compared the impact of both strategies on maternal malaria and anaemia, abortion, intrauterine death, birth weight, preterm delivery. Methods This non-inferiority trial, conducted in Kinshasa, enrolled pregnant women in their second and third trimesters. Participants in the IPTp-SP arm (n = 124) received SP at monthly antenatal visit as per guidelines, while those in the ISTp-uRDT-PA arm (n = 126) were screened monthly with an uRDT and treated with PA if positive. Primary outcomes included asymptomatic parasitaemia (uRDT positive without fever) or symptomatic parasitaemia (uRDT positive with fever or history of fever, and parasite density by microscopy during pregnancy. Results Asymptomatic parasitaemia by uRDT during pregnancy was similar in both arms (20.8% in IPTp-SP vs 21.0% in ISTp-uRDT-PA). At delivery, asymptomatic parasitaemia was 51% higher in ISTp-uRDT-PA arm compared to IPTp-SP (cRR = 1.51 [95% CI 0.76–3.00], p = 0.24). Symptomatic parasitaemia by uRDT at delivery showed no significant difference. Malaria by microscopy at enrolment was detected in 34.4% of women. Malaria by microscopy during pregnancy was 9.6% in IPTp-SP and 10.1%. ISTp-uRDT-PA (p = 0.19), decreasing to 3.2% and 0.9%, respectively, at delivery (p = 0.24). Mean haemoglobin concentration at enrolment was 10.1 g/dl in the IPTp-SP and 9.8 g/dl in the ISTp-uRDT-PA with no significant difference in maternal anaemia at delivery (7%; cRR = 1.07 [95% CI 0.87–1.31], p = 0.52). No significant differences were found for spontaneous abortions and in utero death in both arms. The risk of a premature newborn declined by 14% in ISTp-uRDT-PA compared to the IPTp-SP arm (cRR = 0.86 [95% CI 0.29–2.85], p = 0.79) while low-birth-weight was not significantly higher (cRR = 1.74 [95% CI 0.86–3.53], p = 0.12). Conclusion ISTp-uRDT-PA was non inferior to IPTp-SP and can be considered as a future alternative for IPTp-SP in case this intervention can no longer be used due to high SP resistance. Clinical trials registration: NCT04783051.
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spelling doaj-art-07697109b89a43b8bb9df2f5872c77052025-08-20T03:10:51ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752025-02-0124111610.1186/s12936-025-05260-6Intermittent screening using ultra-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Kinshasa, DRCJaphet Kabalu Tshiongo0Flory Luzolo Khote1Melissa Kabena2Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko3Thierry Kalonji-Mukendi4Landrine Luzolo5Henk D. F. H. Schallig6Kassoum Kayentao7Petra F. Mens8Pascal Lutumba9Halidou Tinto10Vivi Maketa11Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN)Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN)Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN)Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN)Programme National de Lutte Contre le Monkeypox et les Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales, Ministère de la Santé (PNLMPX-FHV)Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN)Laboratory for Experimental Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical CentreMalaria Research and Training Center (MRTC), University of Sciences of Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB)Laboratory for Experimental Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical CentreDepartment of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN)Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé-Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN)Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN)Abstract Background The declining effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) due to the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance highlights the need for alternative malaria prevention strategies in pregnant women. A novel approach was proposed: screening with an ultra-sensitive rapid diagnostic test and treating positive with pyronaridine-artesunate (ISTp-uRDT-PA). This trial compared the impact of both strategies on maternal malaria and anaemia, abortion, intrauterine death, birth weight, preterm delivery. Methods This non-inferiority trial, conducted in Kinshasa, enrolled pregnant women in their second and third trimesters. Participants in the IPTp-SP arm (n = 124) received SP at monthly antenatal visit as per guidelines, while those in the ISTp-uRDT-PA arm (n = 126) were screened monthly with an uRDT and treated with PA if positive. Primary outcomes included asymptomatic parasitaemia (uRDT positive without fever) or symptomatic parasitaemia (uRDT positive with fever or history of fever, and parasite density by microscopy during pregnancy. Results Asymptomatic parasitaemia by uRDT during pregnancy was similar in both arms (20.8% in IPTp-SP vs 21.0% in ISTp-uRDT-PA). At delivery, asymptomatic parasitaemia was 51% higher in ISTp-uRDT-PA arm compared to IPTp-SP (cRR = 1.51 [95% CI 0.76–3.00], p = 0.24). Symptomatic parasitaemia by uRDT at delivery showed no significant difference. Malaria by microscopy at enrolment was detected in 34.4% of women. Malaria by microscopy during pregnancy was 9.6% in IPTp-SP and 10.1%. ISTp-uRDT-PA (p = 0.19), decreasing to 3.2% and 0.9%, respectively, at delivery (p = 0.24). Mean haemoglobin concentration at enrolment was 10.1 g/dl in the IPTp-SP and 9.8 g/dl in the ISTp-uRDT-PA with no significant difference in maternal anaemia at delivery (7%; cRR = 1.07 [95% CI 0.87–1.31], p = 0.52). No significant differences were found for spontaneous abortions and in utero death in both arms. The risk of a premature newborn declined by 14% in ISTp-uRDT-PA compared to the IPTp-SP arm (cRR = 0.86 [95% CI 0.29–2.85], p = 0.79) while low-birth-weight was not significantly higher (cRR = 1.74 [95% CI 0.86–3.53], p = 0.12). Conclusion ISTp-uRDT-PA was non inferior to IPTp-SP and can be considered as a future alternative for IPTp-SP in case this intervention can no longer be used due to high SP resistance. Clinical trials registration: NCT04783051.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05260-6Sulfadoxine-PyrimethaminePyronaridine-artesunateUltra-sensitive rapid diagnostic testMalaria in pregnancyDemocratic Republic of the Congo
spellingShingle Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo
Flory Luzolo Khote
Melissa Kabena
Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko
Thierry Kalonji-Mukendi
Landrine Luzolo
Henk D. F. H. Schallig
Kassoum Kayentao
Petra F. Mens
Pascal Lutumba
Halidou Tinto
Vivi Maketa
Intermittent screening using ultra-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Kinshasa, DRC
Malaria Journal
Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine
Pyronaridine-artesunate
Ultra-sensitive rapid diagnostic test
Malaria in pregnancy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
title Intermittent screening using ultra-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Kinshasa, DRC
title_full Intermittent screening using ultra-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Kinshasa, DRC
title_fullStr Intermittent screening using ultra-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Kinshasa, DRC
title_full_unstemmed Intermittent screening using ultra-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Kinshasa, DRC
title_short Intermittent screening using ultra-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Kinshasa, DRC
title_sort intermittent screening using ultra sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in kinshasa drc
topic Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine
Pyronaridine-artesunate
Ultra-sensitive rapid diagnostic test
Malaria in pregnancy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05260-6
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