iron chelators / malaria

(doe) said:

Med Trop (Mars). 2003;63(2):119-30. Related Articles, Links

Note that the chelating agents are clearly specified ... EDTA
would not work where Desferrioxamine is needed. And it's been
knownm since the late 1980s or early 1990s that this effect
happens. What is still at issue is whether it is reliable and
safe.

http://www.mediscope.ch/cochrane-abstracts/ab001474.htm
Main results: No evidence of benefit or harm were shown in
relation to mortality, but studies were small, and one trial was
tending towards more deaths with the intervention when it was
stopped. The risk of experiencing persistent seizures was
significantly lower with desferrioxamine compared to placebo
treatment (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.95). Many adverse effects
were more common in participants treated with desferrioxamine.

Quoted message said:

Rapid development of significant resistance to antimalarial drugs has been a
major force driving research to identify and develop new compounds. A number of
iron(III)-chelating compounds designed for purposes other than treating malaria
have in vitro antimalarial activity stemming from iron deprivation or toxic
effects related to free radical release.

In vitro: works in the test tube by depriving theparasites of
iron or releasing free radicals. Not yet tested in animals.

Quoted message said:

Several of the iron(III) chelators
have been effective in animal models of plasmodial infection. Desferrioxamine
has been used successfully against both uncomplicated and severe malaria in
humans.

Quoted message said:

Iron-chelating agents seem to be promising therapeutic *adjuvants* for
treatment of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection.

Translation: it appears to help (adjuvant = helper)

http://www.mahidol.ac.th/abstracts/annual2000/0261.htm
"Desferrioxamine, however, reduced oxidative damage during the
infection without compromising the therapeutic effect of
artemisinin. These findings suggested that the infected
erythrocytes were prone to the effect of artemisinin. Addition of
a chelator such as desferrioxamine is beneficial and can improve
the treatment of severe malarial."

Tsu

--
To doubt everything or to believe everything
are two equally convenient solutions; both
dispense with the necessity of reflection.
- Jules Henri Poincaré