Malaria Pregnancy Rcog

Green-top Guideline No.
54B
April 2010
The diagnosis and treatment of malaria in pregnancy
The diagnosis and treatment of malaria in pregnancy

This is the first edition of this guideline.
1.
Purpose and scope
The aim of this guideline is to provide clinicians with up-to-date, evidence-based information on the diagnosis
and treatment of malaria in pregnancy, in situations that are likely to be encountered in UK medical practice.
For initial rapid assessment and management, see Appendix 1.
2.
Background
Malaria is the most important parasitic infection in humans and is the tropical disease most commonly
imported into the UK, with approximately 1500 cases reported each year and rising, apart from 2008.1
Approximately 75% of cases are caused by Plasmodium falciparum and there is an average of 515 deaths a
year (mortality rate approximately 0.51.0%).1 Immigrants and second- and third-generation relatives
returning home assuming they are immune from malaria are by far the highest risk group. They may take no
prophylaxis or may be deterred by the cost, may not adhere to advice, may receive poor advice or some
combination of these factors.2,3 Prevention of malaria is covered in Green-top Guideline No. 54A.4
In the UK, the prevalence of imported malaria in pregnancy is unknown. A review of the burden of
malaria in pregnancy estimated that about one in four women in sub-Saharan Africa in areas of stable
transmission has malaria at the time of birth.5 Online and telephone enquiries with the Health Protection
Agency (www.hpa.org.uk) and Eurosurveillance archives (www.eurosurveillance.org) and reviews of
published reports failed to uncover a report of maternal death from malaria in UK for the past 10 years.6
Maternal deaths from malaria are unlikely to be reported when they occur in endemic countries.
Malaria in pregnancy is detrimental to the woman and her fetus and collective data demonstrate that the risk
of adverse effects from untreated malaria in pregnancy outweigh those of treatment.5,610 The protozoan
parasites P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale (extremely rarely P. knowlesi),11 are transmitted by
the bite of a sporozoite-bearing female anopheline mosquito. After a period of pre-erythrocytic development
in the liver, the blood stage infection, which causes the disease, begins. Parasitic invasion of the erythrocyte
consumes haemoglobin and alters the red cell membrane. This allows P. falciparum infected erythrocytes to
cytoadhere (or stick) inside the small blood vessels of brain, kidneys and other affected organs. Cytoadherence
and rosetting (adherence of uninfected red blood cells) interfere with microcirculatory flow and metabolism
of vital organs. The hallmark of falciparum malaria in pregnancy is parasites sequestered in the placenta.
Sequestered parasites evade host defence mechanisms: splenic processing and filtration. Sequestration is not
known to occur in the benign malarias due to P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. In pregnancy, the adverse
effects of malaria infection result from:
the systemic infection, comparable to the effects of any severe febrile illness in pregnancy: maternal and fetal
mortality, miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth
the parasitisation itself: fetal growth restriction and low birth weight, maternal and fetal anaemia, interaction
with HIV, susceptibility of the infant to malaria.
P. falciparum causes greater morbidity (maternal and fetal, principally low birth weight and anaemia) and
mortality than non-falciparum infections5,710 but there is mounting evidence that P. vivax is not as benign as
had been previously thought.1214 Response to antimalarial treatment is multifactorial but is associated with
the degree of prior immunity acquired from repeated exposures in childhood and the background level of
drug resistance.The higher the transmission of malaria, the greater the degree of prior immunity and the more
likely the woman will respond favourably to a drug treatment.15,16
RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 54b
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Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
3.
Identification and assessment of the evidence
A literature search was performed using Medline (November 2009). Keywords used were severe malaria,
uncomplicated malaria, burden malaria, congenital malaria, anaemia malaria, pregnancy, treatment,
antimalarials artesunate, artemether, artemether-lumefantrine, atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine,
clindamycin,dihyroartemisinin-piperaquine,mefloquine,quinine,primaquine,UK,epidemics,maternal
mortality,pharmacokinetic and pregnancy. Reference lists of the articles identified were hand searched for
additional articles. Other sources used in the development of this guideline included UK malaria treatment
guidelines, published3 and online at the Health Protection Agency, international guidelines from the World
Health Organization17 and websites covering malaria and pregnancy. Areas lacking evidence are highlighted
and annotated as good practice points. Articles on intermittent preventive treatment were specifically
excluded, as this practice is not recommended in the UK.
4.
Limitations of the data used in this guidelines
There is no published evidence of treatment efficacy for malaria in pregnant women in the UK or any other
non-endemic country.18,19 There are no randomised controlled trials of antimalarials in the first trimester of
pregnancy.18 The evidence for best treatment in pregnancy is gained from endemic areas17,19,20 and is not
supported by the availability of drugs or licensing regulations within the UK. Treatment response in UK
pregnant women can only be extrapolated from, and is likely to be worse than, treatment responses in semiimmune women. Treatment responses are likely to be closest to those observed in areas of low and unstable
malaria transmission, where malaria in pregnancy is usually symptomatic. Data on malaria in pregnancy,
especially epidemic malaria, where the severe effects on pregnant women were recorded, is historical.21,22 In
this guideline, the best available evidence for treatment in pregnancy is published in parallel with UK
treatment guidelines,3 with comments on the guidelines. Availability of drugs within the UK can change and
this guideline promotes the use of evidence-based prescription choices in this vulnerable group.
Overall, 13 randomised controlled trials on the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum in pregnancy were
completed in the past 20 years in eight different countries (Africa and Asia) and have included 2254 women
from high and low transmission areas and a total of 16 different antimalarial drug regimens.2335 Seventy-seven
percent (10/13) of the trials followed the women post-treatment until delivery but 46% (6/13) attempted to
evaluate the infants at 1 year of life. A 2009 Cochrane meta-analysis concluded that data on uncomplicated
malaria in pregnancy were scant and, while some combinations appeared effective, data on safety were lacking.36
5.
Definition of terms used in this guideline
5.1 Severe and complicated malaria

The severe signs of malaria are non-specific and other causes must be excluded before assigning the signs and
symptoms to malaria (Box 1). The parasitaemia of severe malaria can be less than 2%. Pregnant women with
2% or more parasitised red blood cells are at higher risk of developing severe malaria and should be treated
with the severe malaria protocol.3
5.2 Uncomplicated malaria

Uncomplicated malaria in the UK is defined as fewer than 2% parasitised red blood cells in a woman with no
signs of severity and no complicating features.3
5.3 Congenital malaria

Congenital malaria in the very young infant or newborn results from the passage of parasites or infected red
blood cells from the mother to the newborn while in utero or during delivery and not by the bite of the
female anopheline mosquito.
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Box 1. Clinical and laboratory findings of severe or complicated malaria in adults

(reproduced with permission from the World Health Organization)16
Clinical manifestations
Prostration
Impaired consciousness
Respiratory distress (acidotic breathing, acute respiratory distress syndrome)*
Pulmonary oedema (including radiological)*
Multiple convulsions
Circulatory collapse, shock (blood pressure < 90/60 mmHg)
Abnormal bleeding, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
Jaundice
Haemoglobinuria (without G6PD deficiency)
Laboratory tests
Severe anaemia (Haemoglobin < 8.0 g/dl)
Thrombocytopaenia
Hypoglycaemia (< 2.2 mmol/l)*
Acidosis (pH < 7.3)
Renal impairment (oliguria < 0.4 ml/kg body weight/hour or creatinine > 265 mol/l)
Hyperlactataemia (correlates with mortality)
Hyperparasitaemia (> 2% parasitised red blood cells)
Algid malaria - Gram-negative septicaemia*
Lumbar puncture to exclude meningitis
* Common features in pregnant women with severe or complicated malaria
5.4 Artemisinin combination therapy

Artemisinin combination therapy is a combination of artemisinin or one of its derivatives with an antimalarial
or antimalarials of a different class.
5.5 Resistance
Resistance is defined as the ability of a parasite strain to survive and multiply despite the administration and
absorption of a medicine given in doses equal to or higher than those usually recommended but within the
tolerance of the subject, with the caveat that the form of the drug active against the parasite must be able to
gain access to the parasite or the infected red blood cell for the duration of time necessary for its normal action.37
6. Diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy
6.1 Why is malaria diagnosis difficult?

There are no specific symptoms or signs and malaria infection may present with a flu-like illness.
A history of travel to a malaria endemic area should be sought in a pregnant woman with pyrexia of
unknown origin.
Suspicion of malaria requires prompt confirmation by malaria blood film (Appendix 2), as there are no clinical
algorithms that permit accurate diagnosis by signs and symptoms (see Section 6.2). In its early stages, the
symptoms and signs of malaria can mimic influenza and other common viral infections (Box 2).
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Box 2. Symptoms and signs of malaria

Symptoms
Fever/chills/sweats
Headache
Muscle pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Cough
General malaise
Signs
Jaundice
Elevated temperature
Perspiration
Pallor
Splenomegaly
Respiratory distress
Misdiagnosis has been reported to occur when the leading symptoms are jaundice or respiratory3840 and
possibly gastrointestinal (certainly in children) in nature. Misdiagnosis and delay of treatment are the most
common reasons cited for death from malaria in Europe41,42 and the USA.43 For the non-falciparum malarias,
the history of travel may be more than 1 year before the onset of symptoms3,43 and, for any woman who has
taken prophylaxis, compliance does not rule out the diagnosis of malaria. In the only case series of imported
malaria in pregnant women in Europe (Marseille, France), the majority (14 of 18) had fever and the four
women who did not, had thrombocytopenia or anaemia associated with splenomegaly.44
A history of travel to the tropics and the non-specific nature of the symptoms and signs will lead clinicians to
consider investigating other travel-related diagnoses, according to the region visited; for example, influenzalike illnesses including H1N1, severe acute respiratory syndrome, avian influenza, HIV, meningitis/encephalitis
and viral haemorrhagic fevers, hepatitis, dengue fever, scrub and murine typhus and leptospirosis. However,
for malaria diagnosis a blood film is vital.
6.2 How should malaria in pregnancy be diagnosed?

Microscopic diagnosis allows species identification and estimation of parasitaemia, so that appropriate
antimalarials can be prescribed.
Rapid detection tests may miss low parasitaemia, which is more likely in pregnant women, and rapid
detections tests are relatively insensitive in P. vivax malaria.
Microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests are the standard tools available. The diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy,
as in non-pregnant patients, relies on microscopic examination (the current gold standard) of thick and thin
blood films for parasites (Appendix 2) or the use of rapid diagnostic tests which detect specific parasite
antigen or enzyme. Rapid diagnostic tests are less sensitive than malaria blood film.45,46 A positive rapid
diagnostic test should be followed by microscopy to quantify the number of infected red blood cells
(parasitaemia) and to confirm the species and the stage of parasites. The rapid diagnostic tests should not
replace blood films, which should always be prepared, even if they cannot immediately be read (assistance
can be provided in the UK; Box 3).
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Box 3. Assistance for reading malaria blood films sent urgently by courier or taxi
HPA Malaria Reference Laboratory
Website: www.hpa.org.uk/HPA
For advice on laboratory diagnosis: tel: 020 7927 2427
Send in the risk assessment template by fax and receive results within 3 days; fax: 020 7637 0248
Patient data requirements (risk assessment template Malaria Request Form) available to download as a PDF file:
www.hpa.org.uk/HPA/ProductsServices/InfectiousDiseases/LaboratoriesAndReferenceFacilities/1200660023262/
Send samples to:
HPA Malaria Reference Laboratory, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT
For advice for health professionals over the phone, please contact the National Travel Health Network and Centre: tel: 0845 602 6712
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London

Website information for doctors: www.thehtd.org/Fordoctors.aspx
General practitioners or hospitals requiring information or clinical advice should telephone: 0845 1555 000 ext. 5414/5418
Send films by courier or cab to:
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Mortimer Market Centre, Capper St, London WC1E 6AU
After 17:00 or at the weekend, the sample should be addressed to:
SHO on call, T8, University College Hospital, 253 Euston Road, London NW1 2BU
Tel. 08451555000 bleep 5840
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool

Patient data requirements (HPA risk assessment template Malaria Request Form) available to download as a PDF file :
www.liv.ac.uk/lstm/travel_health_services/diagnos_lab.htm
Sample requirements: original (EDTA) blood sample plus two unstained thick films and two unstained, methanol fixed, thin films. Samples
should be sent by first class mail, or courier to:
Clinical Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA
or, if in the Hays DX scheme:
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Diagnostic Laboratory, DX 6966301, Liverpool 92L
A charge is made for all laboratory services; for current prices please telephone laboratory staff on 0151 705 3220. Please note that the
laboratory opening hours are 08.3017.00 Monday to Friday. The laboratory is closed at weekends and on Bank Holidays. For technical advice
regarding samples/tests and for interpretation of results please contact the Diagnostic Laboratory 0151 705 3220/3290
In a febrile patient, three negative malaria smears 1224 hours apart rules out the diagnosis of malaria.
In a case series of pregnant women from France, all women were identified as positive for malaria by
microscopy.44 There are occasions for suspicions to remain high and expert advice should be sought in such
circumstances. Women who have taken prophylaxis may have their parasitaemia suppressed below the level
of microscopic detection (total biomass 108 parasites) and details of prophylaxis (name, where it was bought
in case of fake drug dosing and adherence) should be sought. Stop prophylaxis on admission to hospital.
Pregnant women with a high background immune level may have negative peripheral blood thick films but
parasites sequestered in the placenta (for example, a recently arrived woman from a high malaria-endemic
country with an unexplained anaemia).47
Other important prognostic factors that should be reported on a peripheral blood smear result are:
the presence and count of mature trophozoites and schizonts of P. falciparum

finding malaria pigment in more than 5% of the polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the peripheral blood
film.48,49
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6.3 Is the severity of malaria a useful aid in managing the infection?

Women with malaria in pregnancy should have the severity of their condition assessed and documented
as an aid to management.
The clinical condition is the most important indicator of severity and should be assessed promptly (Box 1). A
helpful summary of the key points for use in the emergency department has been made available via the
British Infection Society website (www.britishinfectionsociety.org). The severity of malaria determines the
treatment and predicts the case fatality rate. In uncomplicated malaria, fatality rates are low: approximately
0.1% for P. falciparum. In severe malaria, particularly in pregnancy, fatality rates are high (1520% in
nonpregnant women compared with 50% in pregnancy).17,38,50,51 Brabin estimated mortality to be 210 times
higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women in endemic areas.52 The non-falciparum species are
rarely fatal but caution should still be observed.12,53
Once the disease has been classified as severe/complicated (as defined in Section 5.1 and Box 1 of this
guideline) or uncomplicated malaria (as defined in Section 5.2 of this guideline) prompt treatment should be
instituted.
7.
How is malaria infection treated during pregnancy?
Treat malaria in pregnancy as an emergency.
Admit pregnant women with uncomplicated malaria to hospital and pregnant women with severe and
complicated malaria to an intensive care unit.
Intravenous artesunate is the treatment of choice for severe falciparum malaria. Use intravenous
quinine if artesunate is not available.
Use quinine and clindamycin to treat uncomplicated P. falciparum (or mixed, such as P. falciparum and
P. vivax).
Use chloroquine to treat P. vivax, P. ovale or P. malariae.
Primaquine should not be used in pregnancy.
Seek advice from infectious diseases specialists, especially for severe and recurrent cases.
Do not persist with oral therapy if vomiting is persistent.
Treat the fever with antipyretics.
Screen women with malaria for anaemia and treat appropriately.
Write a management plan for follow-up, to ensure detection of relapse.
7.1 Drug treatment

Delay in diagnosis and treatment is associated with death from severe malaria.42,5456 Use the treatment
guidelines shown in Table 1. For a summary of the published evidence see Appendix 3.
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Table 1. UK treatment guidelines in pregnancy3

Severity
Indication
Drug and dosage
Severe or complicated
malariaa
Any species (for specific cases after

expert consultation; see Table 2)
Artesunate IV 2.4 mg/kg at 0, 12 and 24 hours, then daily thereafter.

When the patient is well enough to take oral medication she can be
switched to oral artesunate 2 mg/kg (or IM artesunate 2.4 mg/kg)
once daily, plus clindamycin. If oral artesunate is not available, use a
3-day course of Riamet (GSK) or atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone,
Novartis) or a 7-day course of quinine and clindamycin at 450 mg
3 times a day 7 days.
ALTERNATIVELY
Any species
Quinine IV 20 mg/kg loading dose (no loading dose if patient already

taking quinine or mefloquine) in 5% dextrose over 4 hours and then
10 mg/kg IV over 4 hours every 8 hours plus clindamycin IV 450 mg
every 8 hours (max. dose quinine 1.4 g). When the patient is well
enough to take oral medication she can be switched to oral quinine
600 mg 3 times a day to complete 57 days and oral clindamycin
450 mg 3 times a day 7 days (an alternative rapid quinine-loading
regimen is 7 mg/kg quinine dihyrochloride IV over 30 minutes using an
infusion pump followed by 10 mg/kg over 4 hours).
Note: quinine dosing should be reduced to 12-hourly dosing if IV
therapy extends more than 48 hours or if the patient has renal or
hepatic dysfunction.56 Quinine is associated with severe and
recurrent hypoglycaemia in late pregnancy.57
Uncomplicated malariab
Non-falciparum malariac
P. falciparum
Oral quinine 600 mg 8 hourly and oral clindamycin 450 mg 8 hourly

for 7 days (can be given together)
or Riamet 4 tablets/dose for weight > 35 kg, twice daily for 3 days
(with fat)
or atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) 4 standard tablets daily for
3 days.
Vomiting but no signs of severe or

complicated malaria
Quinine 10 mg/kg dose IV in 5% dextrose over 4 hours every 8 hours

plus IV clindamycin 450 mg every 8 hours. When the patient is well
enough to take oral medication she can be switched to oral quinine
600 mg 3 times a day to complete 57 days and oral clindamycin can
if needed be switched to 450 mg 3 times a day 7 days.
P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae
Oral chloroquine (base) 600 mg followed by 300 mg 68 hours later.

Then 300 mg on day 2 and again on day 3.
Resistant P. vivax
As for uncomplicated malaria P. falciparum
Preventing relapse DURING pregnancy
Chloroquine oral 300 mg weekly until delivery
Preventing relapse AFTER delivery
Postpone until 3 months after delivery and G6PD testing
P. ovale
Oral primaquine 15 mg single daily dose for 14 days
P. vivax
Oral primaquine 30 mg single daily dose for 14 days
G6PD (mild) for P. vivax or P. ovale
Primaquine oral 4560 mg once a week for 8 weeks
Severe and complicated malaria published evidence, see Appendix 3.1;

Uncomplicated malaria published evidence, see Appendix 3.2;
c Non-falciparum malaria published evidence, see Appendix 3.3; IM = intramuscular, IV = intravenous
b
7.2 Who should prescribe treatment for malaria infection in pregnancy?

In the UK, treatment prescription is limited to physicians. Treatment in pregnancy, particularly of severe and
recurrent malaria, is best given with expert advice (Table 2).
7.3 Where should treatment of uncomplicated malaria infection take place?

In the UK, it is advisable to hospitalise all pregnant women with P. falciparum, as the clinical condition can
deteriorate rapidly.3,5962 Blood films are usually monitored every 24 hours but clinical deterioration is an
indication for a repeat blood film.
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Table 2. Contact details for intravenous artesunate or specialist advice in cases of severe malaria
Organisation
Contact details
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London

[http://thehtd.org/Emergencies.aspx]
HTD will send artesunate to other hospitals dealing with severe
cases if there is going to be a delay in transferring the patient to
HTD (do not delay IV treatment in the interim)
FOR ADVICE/IV ARTESUNATE

Ask for the on-call tropical medicine registrar (24-hour service).
Use the University College London Hospital switchboard;
tel: 08451 555000
Oxford Hospital for Tropical Diseases

Ask for the infectious diseases consultant on call at the John Warin
Ward. Use Churchill Hospital Switchboard; tel: 01865 741841
Note: the drug can be sent during the daytime and services at the
weekend are limited.
Liverpool School Tropical Medicine

Tropical Medicine Services for Health Professionals
[www.liv.ac.uk/lstm/travel_health_services/health_profs.htm]

Tropical doctor on call in working hours; tel: 0151 705 3100,
0151 706 2000 (at other times ask for the infectious disease/tropical
doctor on call at the Royal Hospital)
Birmingham Heartlands Hospital

Infectious Diseases Unit
Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine

Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
Birmingham B9 5ST
Tel: 0121 424 1137
Outside working hours tel: 0121 424 2000 for the switchboard
Idis Pharma [www.idispharma.com]

Despite the fact that artesunate has not achieved good
manufacturing practice certification, it has received the
orphan medicinal products designation from the European
Medicines Agency.132
Product details: oral artesunate guilin, 50-mg tablets 1 x 12;
IV artesunate 60-mg powder/solution for injection 1 x 8
FOR IV or ORAL ARTESUNATE

Contact details in the UK: tel: 01932 824100; fax: 01932 824300;
email: globalsales@idispharma.com
The 7-day course of quinine has significant adverse effects, principally cinchonism,19 which includes tinnitus,
headache, nausea, diarrhoea, altered auditory acuity and blurred vision. This can lead to non-compliance,
which frequently leads to failure.16,6366 For this reason, hospitalisation can be useful, as compliance with each
dose of quinine and clindamycin can be observed and this may lead to improved cure rates.65,67
While non-falciparum malaria can be managed on an outpatient basis, admission ensures compliance and any
risk of vomiting or rapid deterioration is minimised and allows time for planning post-treatment prophylaxis.
7.4 What happens if the patient vomits?

Vomiting is a symptom of malaria and a known adverse effect of quinine.6870 It is associated with
antimalarial treatment failure.16
Evidence
level 2+
If the patient vomits, use an antiemetic.There are no studies of their efficacy in malaria17 but metoclopramide
is considered safe, even in the first trimester.71 After the antiemetic has had time to take effect, repeat the dose.
Repeat vomiting after antiemetic is an indication for parenteral therapy.
7.5 What other medication should be provided alongside treatment of uncomplicated malaria infection?
The fever of malaria has been associated with premature labour53,72 and fetal distress.73 Prompt
treatment with antipyretics (paracetamol at the standard dose) is fundamental to the treatment of
fever from malaria in pregnancy. Evidence for the efficacy of paracetamol arises mostly from studies
in children.7478
Evidence
level 1
An estimated 400 000 pregnant woman developed severe anaemia as a result of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa
in 1995.79 Despite the massive burden of malaria-related anaemia in pregnancy, there are very few studies that
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have directly addressed the question of routine iron and folate supplementation as part of uncomplicated
malaria treatment. In P. falciparum malaria treatment trials in women with low premunition, 90% of women
developed anaemia (haemoglobin less than 10 g/dl), either on admission or during follow-up.80 Premunition
is the degree of naturally acquired host immunity to malaria. It depends on repeated exposure to infectious
anopheline bites, so most UK-based residents will have low or no premunition. Mild and moderate malariaassociated anaemia is treated with ferrous sulphate and folic acid at the usual doses.
7.6 Does pregnancy affect the efficacy of malaria treatments?

Treatments in pregnancy may have lower efficacy than in non-pregnant patients but this apparent effect could
result from lowered concentrations of antimalarials in pregnancy.26,30,32 Women should be advised of the risk
of recurrence and a suitable follow-up plan devised; for example, if symptoms or fever return, a repeat blood
film is necessary. Alternatively, weekly screening by blood film can provide early detection and treatment of
malaria. This has been shown to reduce maternal death from malaria in Thailand.10 There is no evidence of
weekly blood film use in the UK but Thailand is a low endemic area so immune levels would not be much
higher than those in women from the UK who were not immune.
Malaria in pregnancy is unique and the ability of P. falciparum to sequester in the placenta challenges the
normal way antimalarial drug efficacy is assessed.37 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed prolonged
submicroscopic carriage with subsequent recurrence has been reported in pregnant women for months
following drug treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum. Most recurrence is around day 2842 but latereported recurrence, so far unique to pregnancy, has been reported to occur at 85 days with quinine,28 98 days
with artesunate, 63 days with artemether-lumefantrine30 and 121 days with mefloquine.81 Weekly screening by
blood film until delivery allows these women to be detected positive before becoming symptomatic.10
7.7 How should recurrence be treated?

The treatment efficacy of antimalarials for recurrent malaria in pregnancy has been described in only a handful of trials.30,8284 The cure rates for uncomplicated malaria with quinine fell from 77.0% to 61.0% (P = 0.03)
and for mefloquine from 72.0% to 62.5% (P > 0.05) when these drugs were used to treat primary and
recurrent infections.82 The alternative regimen for recurrent malaria at that time (19951997) was artesunate
monotherapy, which had a cure rate of 84%. In another study, the PCR-confirmed cure rates of women treated
in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were highest when the infection on admission to the study
was primary (the first for the pregnancy) and lowest when the infection was recrudescent (failure of previous
drug treatment in pregnancy).82 Infections that recur following treatment are likely to be intrinsically less
sensitive to the drugs used against them. A highly effective 7-day treatment has more chance of curing the
patient. All the trials of recurrent malaria in pregnancy rely on artemisinin derivatives.
Unfortunately, the options for treatment of recurrent infection in pregnancy in the UK are limited but, if
quinine and clindamycin has failed as first-line treatment, an alternative should be considered. Atovaquoneproguanil-artesunate83 and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine84 have been used in pregnant women with
multiple recurrent infections with good effect. Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone, GlaxoSmithKline) is
available in the UK and, as noted earlier, was highly effective against uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria even
when it was not combined with artesunate.85 Note that oral artesunate can be obtained from IDIS Pharma
(Table 2). The World Health Organization recommended regimen of 7 days of artesunate (2 mg/kg/day or
100 mg daily for 7 days) and clindamycin (450 mg three times daily for 7 days) could be given.
8.
How are pregnancy-related complications of severe malaria managed?
Monitor for hypoglycaemia regularly, as it can be profound and persistent in malaria in pregnancy and
can be exacerbated by quinine.
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Prevent mortality from pulmonary oedema and acute respiratory distress syndrome by clinical
assessment of jugular venous or central venous pressure, aimed at keeping right arterial pressure less
than 10 cm H2O.
Women who are severely anaemic should be transfused slowly, preferably with packed cells and
intravenous frusemide 20 mg. Alternatively, exchange transfusion may be considered in centres where
this can be performed safely.
Secondary bacterial infection should be suspected if the patient becomes hypotensive.
Severe malaria in pregnancy is a medical emergency and women should be treated in a high-dependency or
intensive care unit, according to their condition and without delay. The World Health Organizations 2006
malaria treatment guidelines detail the treatment of severe malaria and do not need to be repeated here.17
Common clinical manifestations and management of severe malaria have been summarised (Table 3).17,50 While
hypoglycaemia, pulmonary oedema, severe anaemia and secondary bacterial infection can occur in severe
malaria in non-pregnant patients, they are more common and severe in pregnant women.3,39,40,50,86
Hypoglycaemia is commonly asymptomatic, although it may be associated with fetal bradycardia
and other signs of fetal distress. In the most severely ill women, it is associated with lactic acidosis
and high mortality.68 In patients who have been given quinine, abnormal behaviour, sweating and
sudden loss of consciousness are the usual manifestations.The hypoglycaemia of quinine is caused
by hyperinsulinaemia and remains the most common and important adverse effect of this drug.87
The hypoglycaemia may be profound, recurrent and intractable in pregnancy73,87,88 and regular
monitoring of glucose is required while under quinine treatment. It may present late in the disease
when the patient appears to be recovering. Quinine at treatment doses does not induce abortion
or labour.73,89
Evidence
level 2
Table 3. Supportive clinical care in severe malaria

Manifestation or complication
Management
Coma (cerebral malaria)
Monitor using Glasgow Coma Score. Maintain airway, place patient on her left side, exclude
treatable causes of coma (e.g. hypoglycaemia, bacterial meningitis)
Hyperpyrexia
Administer tepid sponging, fanning and antipyretic drugs
Convulsions
Maintain airway; treat promptly with intravenous or rectal diazepam
Hypoglycaemia
(blood glucose < 2.2 mmol/l or
< 40 mg/100 ml)
Check blood glucose regularly, correct hypoglycaemia and maintain with glucose-containing
infusion. Quinine induced hypoglycaemia can occur quite late in the course even after the
patient appears to be recovering
Severe anaemia
(haemoglobin < 8 g/100 ml or
packed cell volume < 24%)
Transfuse with packed red cells
Acute pulmonary oedema

(possible overlay of acute respiratory
distress syndrome)
Prevent by monitoring jugular venous pressure(JVP)/central venous pressure (CVP) to keep

right arterial pressure < 10 cm H2O. Treat by propping patient up at an angle of 45 degrees,
give oxygen, give a diuretic, stop intravenous fluids, intubate and add positive end-expiratory
pressure/continuous positive airway pressure in life-threatening hypoxaemia
Renal failure
Exclude pre-renal causes, check fluid balance and urinary sodium; if in established renal failure,
add haemofiltration or haemodialysis or, if unavailable, peritoneal dialysis. The benefits of
diuretics/dopamine in acute renal failure are not proven
Spontaneous bleeding and

coagulopathy
Transfuse with screened fresh whole blood (cryoprecipitate, fresh frozen plasma and platelets
if available); give Vitamin K by injection
Metabolic acidosis
Prevent by careful fluid balance; observation of JVP/CVP by central venous access helps
optimise fluid balance and avoids overfilling. Exclude or treat hypoglycaemia, hypovolaemia
and septicaemia. If severe, add haemofiltration or haemodialysis
Shock
Suspect septicaemia, take blood for cultures; give parenteral broad-spectrum antimicrobials,
correct haemodynamic disturbances
11 of 29
Pulmonary oedema may be present on admission or may develop suddenly and unexpectedly. It
may develop immediately after childbirth.38 Pulmonary oedema is a grave complication of severe
malaria, with a high mortality of over 50%.39,40,86,9093 The first indication of impending pulmonary
oedema is an increase in the respiratory rate, which precedes the development of other chest signs.
Ensure that the pulmonary oedema has not resulted from iatrogenic fluid overload and monitor the
central venous pressure and urine output. In some women, acute respiratory distress syndrome can
occur in addition to the pulmonary oedema. Once this syndrome develops, the patient needs fluid
restriction.
Evidence
level 2+
Severe anaemia is associated with maternal morbidity, an increased risk of postpartum

haemorrhage and perinatal mortality.8,39,51,52,90,9396 Women who go into labour when severely anaemic
or fluid-overloaded may develop acute pulmonary oedema after separation of the placenta. Monitor
haemoglobin and transfuse as necessary. Exchange transfusion may be considered but there is no
clear evidence base.97
Evidence
level 2++
Secondary bacterial infection, principally Gram-negative septicaemia, has been reported; the patient
is collapsed with a systolic blood pressure less than 80 mmHg in the supine position.55,98,99 Blood
cultures should be taken if the patient shows signs of shock or fever returns after apparent fever
clearance, Broad-spectrum antibiotics (such as ceftriaxone) should be started immediately. Once
the results of blood culture and sensitivity testing are available, give the appropriate antibiotic.
Evidence
level 3
9.
Obstetric management specific to malaria infection in pregnancy
9.1 Common obstetric problems with acute symptomatic malaria

Preterm labour, fetal growth restriction and fetal heart rate abnormalities can occur in malaria in
pregnancy.
In severe malaria complicated by fetal compromise, a multidisciplinary team approach (intensive care
specialist, infectious disease specialist, obstetrician, neonatologist) is required to plan optimal
management of mother and baby.
Stillbirth and premature delivery in malaria in pregnancy are best prevented with prompt and effective
antimalarial treatment.
Uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy is not a reason for induction of labour.
Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis should be weighed up against the risk of haemorrhage and

should be withheld if the platelet count is falling or less than 100, indicating thrombocytopenia.
Peripartum malaria is an indication for placental histology and placenta, cord and baby blood films to
detect congenital malaria at an early stage.
Inform women of the risk of vertical transmission and, in the presence of positive placental blood films,
that fever in the infant could indicate malaria; a blood film from the baby is required for confirmation.
Commonsense obstetrics applies to the management of the adverse effects of malaria in pregnancy.
Efficacious and prompt treatment of malaria in the woman reduces the systemic effects of parasitaemia and
reduces the adverse effects on the fetus, such as fetal distress.
In severe malaria, cardiotocograph monitoring may reveal fetal tachycardia, bradycardia or late
decelerations in relation to uterine contractions, indicating fetal distress, particularly in the
12 of 29
Evidence
level 4
presence of fever.72 Paracetamol 1 g every 46 hours (to a maximum of 4 g/day) is safe and effective
and should be prescribed. Maternal hypoglycaemia should be excluded as the cause of fetal distress,
particularly if treatment is with quinine. Tocolytic therapy and prophylactic steroid therapy at the
usual obstetric doses should be considered if there are no contraindications.100
Evidence
level 4
Historic records indicate a high fetal loss rate with malaria in pregnancy.101,102 In a more recent
study from the Kenyan coast, Dorman et al.103 found that the risk of preterm delivery in women
with histological evidence of past placental malaria infection compared with women without
infection was more than twice as high (relative risk [RR] 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]
1.314.13; P = 0.004).
Evidence
level 2-
Abnormalities in fetal and placental circulation have been noted on Doppler studies. In one study,
23 women with acute malaria reported that the umbilical artery resistance index increased by 5 to
20% (P < 0.05), with evidence of cerebral redistribution.103,104 In the second observational study in
Kenya, malaria infection at 3235 weeks of gestation was associated with abnormal uterine artery
flow velocity waveforms on the day of blood testing (RR 2.11; 95% CI 1.243.59; P = 0.006).103
In women with severe malaria, obstetric advice should be sought at an early stage.The paediatrician
should be alerted and the mothers blood glucose checked frequently, particularly when
intravenous quinine is administered. Fetal distress is common and has been related to malaria fever:
late (type II) decelerations of the fetal heart rate were recorded in six women before treatment but,
in most women, signs of fetal distress diminished as the maternal temperature fell.73 Standard
obstetric principles apply: the life of the woman comes first. There are no formal studies but
instrumental birth in the second stage of labour in the presence of maternal or fetal distress is
indicated, if there are no contraindications. In severe malaria, the role of early caesarean section for
the viable fetus is unproven.
Evidence
level 3
Acute malaria can cause thrombocytopenia in pregnancy.105 Two studies have examined the effects
on postpartum haemorrhage, which was reported to be higher in malarious areas compared with
non-malarious areas of Papua New Guinea.106 One further trial found an increased mean blood loss
in women with malaria but no increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage.107
In more than 3000 pregnant women who have participated in uncomplicated malaria treatment
trials7,24,2629,43,53,80,8284,108121 and have been prospectively followed from diagnosis of malaria through
treatment and birth, no routine induction of labour occurred unless it was indicated on obstetric
grounds.
Evidence
level 1++
There is usually no need for pregnant women with malaria infection to receive thromboprophylaxis. Acute malaria causes thrombocytopenia105 and, in severe malaria, can cause disseminated
intravascular coagulation.50 Thrombocytopenia recovers with treatment: 90% by day 7 and 100% by
day 14, irrespective of the type of antimalarial treatment.105
Evidence
level 3
Antimalarial drugs can clear peripheral parasitaemia more quickly than from the placenta.122
Maternal malaria close to delivery can result in congenital malaria, which can cause significant
mortality.123 Congenital malaria may present in the first weeks to months of life.A negative placental
blood film at delivery in a woman who has had malaria in pregnancy eliminates the risk of
congenital malaria significantly. Placenta- and cord-positive blood films result in a higher chance of
congenital malaria than placenta-positive, cord-negative blood films. Send the placenta for
histopathology, as it is more sensitive than microscopy for detection of placental parasites.124,125
Evidence
level 2+
13 of 29
9.2 What antenatal care after recovery from an episode of malaria in pregnancy is advised?
Regular antenatal care, including assessment of maternal haemoglobin, platelets, glucose and fetal
growth scans, is advised following recovery from an episode of malaria in pregnancy.
Regular fetal growth assessment is advised and, if growth restriction is identified, routine obstetric
management for this condition applies (See RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 31: Investigation and
Management of Small-for-Gestational-Age Fetus).126
Inform the woman about the risk of relapse, try to prevent it and develop a clear plan with the woman
in the event of symptom recurrence.
In endemic settings, malaria in pregnancy is responsible for over 50% of fetal growth restriction but most
babies born to women with infection during pregnancy will be of normal birth weight.5 No additional fetal
surveillance will prevent the growth restriction. If growth restriction is identified, routine obstetric protocols
for this condition apply. Effective antimalarial treatment which clears the placenta of parasites is the most
important step in preventing this complication (Table 1) followed by prophylaxis to prevent relapse
(Appendix 3), such as weekly chloroquine for P. vivax.The chances of recurrence are low when a woman has
completed an effective course of antimalarials. Nevertheless, it is useful for women to be aware that malaria
can recur (and is more likely with P. vivax or P. ovale). Should symptoms return, prompt screening by malaria
blood film, preferably at the same hospital where treatment was first given, is essential.
The post-malaria treatment course for women treated for malaria can be complicated by anaemia,
which will be detected in routine antenatal screening. There are malaria-endemic countries where
the risk of pre-eclampsia is increased significantly in women with placental malaria.127 The situation
for women in these countries is different from that of a pregnant woman treated for malaria in the
UK because malaria is endemic, diagnosis and case management tends to be weak, impregnated
bed nets and prophylaxis are the main stay of malaria control in pregnancy and the risk of
reinfection is high. The risk of pre-eclampsia in UK pregnant women treated for malaria is not
known but may be lower than in malaria endemic countries.
Evidence
level 3
10. What is the risk of vertical transmission of malaria infection to the baby?
Vertical transmission to the fetus can occur particularly when there is infection at the time of birth and
the placenta and cord are blood film positive for malaria (Appendix 2).
All neonates whose mothers developed malaria in pregnancy should be screened for malaria with
standard microscopy of thick and thin blood films at birth and weekly blood films for 28 days.
Vertical transmission of malaria occurs when malaria parasites cross the placenta, either during
pregnancy or at the time of birth (Appendix 4).128 In a non-endemic country, congenital malaria can
be diagnosed by finding parasites in the neonate if they have not travelled in an endemic area.128132
The reported prevalence of congenital malaria varies from 8% to 33%.5 One or the largest series of
congenital malaria in a non-endemic country comes from the USA.133 P. vivax was the predominant
infecting species and the most common error in the treatment of these infants was the
administration of primaquine, which is unnecessary in this group. Infection of the newborn can
occur despite appropriate treatment in the mother during pregnancy. If the placenta is positive for
parasites, weekly screening of the newborn for 28 days is useful to allow early detection and
treatment of congenital malaria.
14 of 29
Evidence
level 3
11.
Disease reporting
Does a case of malaria in pregnancy in the UK need reporting?

In the UK, malaria in pregnancy must be reported to the public health authorities and the Health Protection
Agency (www.hpa.org.uk) and slides, plus a blood aliquot, should be sent to the Malaria Reference Laboratory
for confirmation, which is performed free of charge.3
Health Protection Agency Central Office
7th Floor
Holborn Gate
330 High Holborn
London, WC1V 7PP
Tel: 020 7759 2700 / 2701
Fax: 020 7759 2733
Email: webteam@hpa.org.uk
OR
Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections

61 Colindale Avenue
London NW9 5EQ
Tel: 020 8200 4400
Fax: 020 8200 7868
Email: infections@hpa.org.uk
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multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in
pregnancy: a preliminary report. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
2003;97:5924.
84. Rijken MJ, McGready R, Boel ME, Barends M, Proux S,
Pimanpanarak M, et al. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine rescue
treatment of multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum
malaria in pregnancy: a preliminary report. Am J Trop Med
Hyg 2008;78:5435.
85. van Vugt M, Leonardi E, Phaipun L, Slight T,Thway KL,
McGready R, et al.Treatment of uncomplicated multidrugresistant falciparum malaria with artesunate-atovaquoneproguanil. Clin Infect Dis 2002;35:1498504.
86. Adam I, Ali DM, Elbashir MI. Manifestations of falciparum
malaria in pregnant women of Eastern Sudan. Saudi Med J
2004;25:194750.
87. White NJ, Warrell DA, Chanthavanich P, Looareesuwan S, Warrell

MJ, Krishna S, et al. Severe hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia
in falciparum malaria. N Engl J Med 1983;309:616.
88. Davis TM, Suputtamongkol Y, Spencer JL, Wilson SG, Mekhton S,
Croft KD, et al. Glucose turnover in pregnant women with
acute malaria. Clin Sci (Lond) 1994;86:8390.
89. Taylor WR, White NJ. Antimalarial drug toxicity: a review. Drug
Saf 2004;27:2561.
90. Gregorakos L, Sakayianni K, Hroni D, Harizopoulou V,
Georgiadou F, Adamidou M. Management of severe and
complicated malaria in the intensive care unit. Intensive Care
Med 1999;25:7447.
91. Maitra N, Joshi M, Hazra M. Maternal manifestations of malaria
in pregnancy: a review. Indian J Matern Child Health
1993;4:98101.
92. Warrell DA. Pathophysiology of severe falciparum malaria in
man. Parasitology 1987;94 Suppl:S5376.
93. Editorial: Severe anaemia in pregnancy in the tropics. Med J
Zambia 1975;9:118.
94. Armon PJ. Maternal deaths in the Kilimanjaro region of
Tanzania. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1979;73:2848.
95. Granja AC, Machungo F, Gomes A, Bergstrom S, Brabin B.
Malaria-related maternal mortality in urban Mozambique. Ann
Trop Med Parasitol 1998;92:25763.
96. Kochar DK,Thanvi I, Joshi A, Shubhakaran, Agarwal N, Jain N.
Mortality trends in falciparum malaria: effect of gender
difference and pregnancy. J Assoc Physicians India
1999;47:7748.
97. Riddle MS, Jackson JL, Sanders JW, Blazes DL. Exchange
transfusion as an adjunct therapy in severe Plasmodium
falciparum malaria: a meta-analysis. Clin Infect Dis
2002;34:11928.
98. Severe falciparum malaria. World Health Organization,
communicable diseases cluster. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
2000;94 Suppl 1:S190.
99. Krishnan A, Karnad DR. Severe falciparum malaria: an
important cause of multiple organ failure in Indian intensive
care unit patients. Crit Care Med 2003;31:227884.
100. Steer PJ.The epidemiology of preterm labour: why have
advances not equated to reduced incidence? BJOG 2006;113
Suppl 3:13.
101. Chiarleoni G. Malaria e atti funzionali della generazione nella
donna. Annali Universali di Medicina e Chirurgia
1886;275:249305.
102. Christophers SR. Malaria in the Punjab. Scientific Memoirs by
Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of the the
Government of India 1911;(46):1135.
103. Dorman EK, Shulman CE, Kingdom J, Bulmer JN, Mwendwa J,
Peshu N, et al. Impaired uteroplacental blood flow in
pregnancies complicated by falciparum malaria. Ultrasound
Obstet Gynecol 2002;19:16570.
104. Arbeille P, Carles G, Bousquet F, Body G, Lansac J. Fetal cerebral
and umbilical artery blood flow changes during pregnancy
complicated by malaria. J Ultrasound Med 1998;17:2239.
105. Tan SO, McGready R, Zwang J, Pimanpanarak M, Sriprawat K,
Thwai KL, et al.Thrombocytopaenia in pregnant women with
malaria on the ThaiBurmese border. Malar J 2008;7:209.
106. Piper C, Brabin BJ, Alpers MP. Higher risk of post-partum
hemorrhage in malarious than in nonmalarious areas of Papua
New Guinea. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2001;72:7778.
107. Uddenfeldt Wort U, Hastings I, Bergstrom S, Massawe S, Lipingu
C, Brabin BJ. Increased postpartum blood loss in pregnancies
associated with placental malaria. Int J Gynecol Obstet
2007;96:1715.
108. Harinasuta T, Kietinun S, Somlaw S, Bunnag D, Sheth UK,
Wernsdorfer W. A clinical trial of mefloquine on multiresistant
falciparum malaria in pregnant women in Thailand. Bulletin de
la Societe Francaise de Parasitologie 1990:429.
109. McGready R, Stepniewska K, Edstein MD, Cho T, Gilveray G,
Looareesuwan S, et al.The pharmacokinetics of atovaquone
and proguanil in pregnant women with acute falciparum
malaria. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2003;59:54552.
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110. Na-Bangchang K, Manyando C, Ruengweerayut R, Kioy D,

Mulenga M, Miller GB, et al.The pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics of atovaquone and proguanil for the
treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in thirdtrimester pregnant women. Eur J Clin Pharmacol
2005;61:57382.
111. McGready R,Thwai KL, Cho T, Samuel, Looareesuwan S, White
NJ, et al.The effects of quinine and chloroquine antimalarial
treatments in the first trimester of pregnancy. Trans R Soc Trop
Med Hyg 2002;96:1804.
112. Adam I, Elwasila E, Mohammed Ali DA, Elansari E, Elbashir MI.
Artemether in the treatment of falciparum malaria during
pregnancy in eastern Sudan. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
2004;98:50913.
113. Bhattarai A, MainiThapar M, Ali AS, Bjorkman A. Amodiaquine
during pregnancy. Lancet Infect Dis 2004;4:7212.
114. Adam I, Ali DM, Abdalla MA. Artesunate plus sulfadoxinepyrimethamine in the treatment of uncomplicated
Plasmodium falciparum malaria during pregnancy in eastern
Sudan. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2006;100:6325.
115. Massele AY, Mpundu MN, Hamudu NA. Utilisation of
antimalarial drugs by pregnant women attending the antenatal
clinic at Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam. East Afr
Med J 1997;74:2830.
116. Nosten F, Vincenti M, Simpson J,Yei P,Thwai KL, de Vries A, et
al.The effects of mefloquine treatment in pregnancy. Clin
Infect Dis 1999;28:80815.
117. Schultz LJ, Steketee RW, Macheso A, Kazembe P, Chitsulo L,
Wirima JJ.The efficacy of antimalarial regimens containing
sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and/or chloroquine in preventing
peripheral and placental Plasmodium falciparum infection
among pregnant women in Malawi. Am J Trop Med Hyg
1994;51:51522.
118. Steketee RW, Wirima JJ, Slutsker L, Khoromana CO, Heymann
DL, Breman JG. Malaria treatment and prevention in pregnancy:
indications for use and adverse events associated with use of
chloroquine or mefloquine. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1996;55:506.
119. Verhoeff FH, Brabin BJ, Chimsuku L, Kazembe P, Russell WB,
Broadhead RL. An evaluation of the effects of intermittent
sulfadoxinepyrimethamine treatment in pregnancy on
parasite clearance and risk of low birthweight in rural Malawi.
Ann Trop Med Parasitol 1998;92:14150.
120. Adegnika AA, Breitling LP, Agnandji ST, Chai SK, Schutte D,
Oyakhirome S, et al. Effectiveness of quinine monotherapy for
the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnant
women in Lambarene, Gabon. Am J Trop Med Hyg
2005;73:2636.
121. Orton L, Garner P. Drugs for treating uncomplicated malaria in
pregnant women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev
2005:CD004912.
122. Procop GW, Jessen R, Hyde SR, Scheck DN. Persistence of

Plasmodium falciparum in the placenta after apparently
effective quinidine/clindamycin therapy. J Perinatol
2001;21:12830.
123. Steketee RW, Nahlen BL, Parise ME, Menendez C.The burden of
malaria in pregnancy in malaria-endemic areas. Am J Trop Med
Hyg 2001;64:2835.
124. Hamer DH, Mwanakasale V, Macleod WB, Chalwe V,
Mukwamataba D, Champo D, et al.Two-dose versus monthly
intermittent preventive treatment of malaria with sulfadoxinepyrimethamine in HIV-seropositive pregnant Zambian women.
J Infect Dis 2007;196:158594.
125. McGready R, Davison BB, Stepniewska K, Cho T, Shee H,
Brockman A, et al.The Effects of Plasmodium falciparum and P.
vivax infections on placental histopathology in an area of low
malaria transmission. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2004;70:398407.
126. Brabin BJ, Johnson PM. Placental malaria and pre-eclampsia
through the looking glass backwards? J Reprod Immunol
2005;65:115.
127. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Investigation and Management of Small-for-Gestational-Age
Fetus. Green-top Guideline No. 31. London: RCOG; 2002
[www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/
investigation-and-management-small-gestational-age-fetus-greentop-3].
128. Brabin BJ. Congenital malaria: a recurrent problem. Ann Trop
Paediatr 2007;27:958.
129. Singh N, Shukla MM, Sharma VP. Epidemiology of malaria in
pregnancy in central India. Bull World Health Organ
1999;77:56772.
130. Menendez C, Mayor A. Congenital malaria: the least known
consequence of malaria in pregnancy. Semin Fetal Neonatal
Med 2007;12:20713.
131. Pengsaa K. Congenital malaria in Thailand. Ann Trop Paediatr
2007;27:1339.
132. Valecha N, Bhatia S, Mehta S, Biswas S, Dash AP. Congenital
malaria with atypical presentation: a case report from low
transmission area in India. Malar J 2007;6:43.
133. Lesko CR, Arguin PM, Newman RD. Congenital malaria in the
United States: a review of cases from 1966 to 2005. Arch
Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007;161:10627.
134. European Medicines Agency. Committee for Orphan Medicinal
Products. Public Summary of Positive Opinion for Orphan
Designation of Artesunate for the Treatment of Malaria.
EMEA/COMP/486932/2007 Rev.1. London: EMA; 2008
[www.ema.europa.eu/htms/human/orphans/opinions.htm].
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Chemoprophylaxis is not 100% effective

Pregnant women with malaria can deteriorate very rapidly
Expert advice with a specialist with current experience in management of malaria is strongly advised
Notify all cases to the local health protection unit, send blood film to reference laboratory
19 of 29
Management of malaria in pregnancy

Commence antimalarials immediately,
according to species and severity
Admit to HDU or ICU and seek expert
advice
Careful fluid balance avoid over-hydration
and hypovolaemia; consider CVP line
Complicated malaria: one or more of

following:
Impaired consciousness (measure GCS and
NSQ) or seizures
Hypoglycaemia
Pulmonary oedema or ARDS
Hyperparasitaemia ( 2% parasitised RBC
but can be lower in severe malaria)
Severe anaemia (Hb < 8.0 g/dl)
Regular blood glucose monitoring

4-hourly observations (pulse, BP, RR, JVP,
SaO2, urine output, GCS)
Repeat daily: parasite count, FBC,
clotting, U&E, LFT
Shock treat for Gram-negative
bacteraemia
Abnormal bleeding/DIC
Haemoglobinuria (without G6PD
deficiency)
Renal impairment/electrolyte disturbance
(acidosis pH < 7.3)
Hyperlactataemia (correlates with
mortality)
Shock (algid malaria) consider Gramnegative septicaemia
Uncomplicated malaria dosing:

Quinine 600 mg orally 8-hourly and clindamycin
450 mg orally 8-hourly for 7 days (drug of choice
EGA < 13 weeks)
Or
Riamet 4 tablets/day for weight > 35 kg for 3 days
Or
Proguanil with atovaquone (Malarone ,
GlaxoSmithKline) four standard tablets daily for
3 days
Non-falciparum malaria
Chloroquine (base) 600 mg orally followed by
300 mg 68 hours later. Then 300 mg day 2, and
again day 3
To prevent relapse (P. vivax/ovale) after treatment
during pregnancy: chloroquine oral 300 mg weekly
until delivery
To prevent relapse after delivery: postpone until
3 months after delivery and G6PD testing. Use
primaquine
Key: ARDS = acute respiratory distress syndrome, BP = blood pressure, CVP = central venous pressure, DIC = disseminated intravascular coagulation, EGA = estimated gestational age, FBC = full blood count,
GCS = Glasgow Coma Score, Hb = haemoglobin, HDU = high-dependency unit, ICU = intensive care unit, JVP = jugular venous pressure, LFT = liver function test, NSQ = Neuroticism Scale Questionnaire,
RBC = red blood cells, RR = respiratory rate, SaO2 = oxygen saturation, U&E = urea and electrolytes
Expert advice/IV artesunate: local infectious unit or London 08451 555000; Liverpool 0151 706 2000; Oxford 08165 7418415; IDIS pharma 01932 824100.
Useful information: www.hpa.org.uk/HPA/ProductsServices/InfectiousDiseases/LaboratoriesAndReferenceFacilities/1200660023262/ and www.who.int/malaria/publications/atoz/9241546948/en/index.html
Complicated malaria dosing:

Artesunate IV 2.4 mg/kg at 0, 12 and 24 hours
& daily thereafter. Drug of choice regardless of
EGA
Or
Quinine IV 20 mg/kg loading dose (no loading
dose if woman already taking quinine or
mefloquine) in 5% dextrose over 4 hours and
then 10 mg/kg IV over 4 hours every 8 hours+
Oral when the patient can swallow (see
uncomplicated malaria dosing)
Malaria unlikely if 3 negative blood films

Finish chemoprohylaxis
Repeat blood film daily 2 days
Stop prophylaxis until malaria excluded

Avoid empirical therapy unless severe illness:
seek expert advice
Falciparum malaria
(mixed or species not characterised)
Admit to hospital; assess severity immediately
Blood film shows
Urgent investigations: All women should have thick and thin blood films and malaria rapid antigen tests. Send to a laboratory immediately and ask for a result in 1 hour. FBC, blood glucose
(imparied consciousness or seizures), U&E, LFT, blood culture, urine dipstick; if indicated, stool test, chest X-ray (precautions apply), obstetric ultrasound (EGA)
History and examination no symptoms or sign can accurately predict malaria. Flu-like illness with fever/chills/sweats, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, general malaise
Early diagnosis, assessment of severity and treatment is vital to avoid malaria deaths
Febrile or ill pregnant women with a history of travel or residence in a malaria area (tropics or
sub-tropics) should be assessed urgently (incubation for non-falciparum malaria may occasionally
be > 6 months)
Recent return (3 weeks): check infection control requirements with microbiologist e.g. viral
haemorrhagic fever, avian influenza or severe acute respiratory syndrome
No evidence of malaria
(Single negative test does not exclude malaria)
Suspect malaria
APPENDIX I: Initial rapid diagnosis, assessment and treatment of malaria in pregnancy
APPENDIX II: Preparing a blood film for malaria and taking a section of placenta for
histopatholgy.
Blood films are also commonly called malaria slide, thick
and thin films, malaria smear or blood slide. A few drops
of the patients blood are required for the test. A brief
summary is provided in Figure 1.
There are many useful websites (including videos) on how
to prepare a thick and thin blood film. For detailed
instructions, try: www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Malaria.
htm or www.helid.desastres.net select Parasitic and Vector
Borne Disease from the topic list (Basic Malaria Microscopy,
Learning Unit 4) or see the laboratory handout from:
www.shoklo-unit.com/lab.shoklo-unit.com/index.html.
Step 1. Put 3 drops of blood onto the slide
Cord blood film or placental blood films require a few drops

of blood collected from those sites.
Cord specimens can be obtained before delivery of the
placenta. Hold the clamped end of the cord above the level
of the umbilicus. Wipe the cord clean, puncture the cord
with a syringe and needle (small gauge) and withdraw blood
from the vessel (0.2 ml is plenty) and reclamp the cord
above the puncture site. The blood obtained needs to go
directly onto the glass slide before it clots (see Figure 1).
Step 2. Use another slide to spread the drop
Placental blood can be obtained by placing the placenta

maternal surface upward. Choose a site midway between the
edge of the placenta and the cord, wipe it clean with gauze,
make an incision about 1 cm deep and 34 cm in length
with a scalpel blade (do not pierce the fetal surface) and use
a syringe and needle (or haematocrit tube) to withdraw
blood that pools in the incised area. Place this blood onto the
glass slide before it clots.
Label all blood films clearly with the site from which they
were obtained (for example, mother, cord, placenta or baby)
before sending to the laboratory. This histopathological
section can be obtained from the same site on the placenta
by cutting a 1 1 1 cm (or smaller) block from the
maternal surface through to the fetal surface and placing it
in fixative.
Figure 1. Summary of steps involved in making a blood film
20 of 29
Step 3. Stir the thick drop
Step 4. Allow the slide to dry before staining
APPENDIX III: Summary of the published evidence on pregnancy treatment recommendations
Severe and complicated malaria.

The first line of treatment in the UK for severe malaria in pregnancy is intravenous quinine1 while the World
Health Organization (WHO) and an increasing number of countries throughout the world recommend
intravenous (IV) artesunate as the preferred first-line drug for all severe malaria in adults including pregnant
women.2 This recommendation was based partly on two WHO informal consultations on the safety of
artemisinins in pregnancy.3 The first of these reported normal pregnancy outcomes in 124 women exposed
in the first trimester. The conclusions were that there was insufficient evidence to support the use of
artemisinin in the first trimester but that it should not be withheld if the life of the woman was endangered
or if other antimalarials were considered unsuitable.The recommendation also relied upon a meta-analysis of
artemisinins for severe malaria4 and a large, multicentre, open-label randomised controlled trial (RCT) of
severe malaria carried out mostly in adults (including pregnant women) in South East Asia, where the trial was
stopped prematurely because of a significantly increased risk of mortality in the intravenous quinine group
(22% compared with 15% in the IV artesunate group).5 Mortality was reduced by 34.7% (95% confidence
interval 18.547.6; P = 0.002) when IV artesunate was used or, for every 13 people treated with IV artesunate
rather than IV quinine, one death was averted. In the same trial, quinine use was associated with
hypoglycaemia (relative risk 3.9, P = 0.002). This is pertinent in pregnancy, since severe and recurrent
hypoglycaemia associated with severe malaria pregnancy is exacerbated by quinine use, which stimulates
insulin secretion.6,7 These effects are more likely in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and it is in
these trimesters that the efficacy and safety data of use of artemisinin derivatives are reassuring.8 A metaanalysis of all RCTs comparing parenteral quinine with artesunate indicated that artesunate was associated
with a 35% reduction in mortality.4 Artesunate kills circulating ring-stage parasites and so prevents
sequestration, which quinine does not, and it is this mechanism of action,9 not quinine resistance, that has
been proposed for the significant reduction in mortality with IV artesunate compared when compared with
IV quinine.5 Every effort should be made to obtain IV artesunate (see Table 2 of the main report for contact
details) for pregnant women with severe malaria, regardless of trimester, in an effort to prevent maternal
death. Parenteral quinine should be given without delay if artesunate is unavailable but treatment should be
switched to artesunate as soon as possible.
Parenteral artesunate is not currently licensed in the UK.The IV artesunate used in the multicentre study was
not made to internationally recognised good manufacturing practice standards.5 Good manufacturing practice
IV artesunate is still not available and has not been licensed in the UK.1 TropNetEurop has advocated strongly
for the use of IV artesunate for severe malaria.10 It can be made available in the UK from specialist tropical
disease centres in London, Oxford and Liverpool or commercially from and Idis Pharma, who can send IV and
oral artesunate to patients who need it (see Table 2 of the main report for contact details).
Treatment of malaria should never be delayed (IV quinine should be used promptly while obtaining IV
artesunate). The UK guidelines explain expert consultation is required before the artesunate will be issued.1
Severe malaria in pregnancy provides an urgent and pressing reason for artesunate to be issued (although this
is not in the current guidelines).1 IV clindamycin is a very slow-acting antimalarial and it is unlikely to add any
additional value to IV artesunate, which is the fastest acting of all antimalarial drugs. In endemic countries, the
treatment course when the patient is well enough to eat and drink would be any artemisinin combination
therapy.2 The only artemisinin available in the UK is Riamet (Novartis; also known as Coartem in some
countries), which can be used at standard doses, alternatively, a treatment course of atovaquone-proguanil
(Malarone, GlaxoSmithKline), four standard tablets daily for 3 days could be prescribed. Artesunate can
be given intramuscularly at 2.4 mg/kg/24 hours (or oral artesunate at 2 mg/kg when available) to complete
7 days, with oral clindamycin for 7 days. Although not ideal, quinine and clindamycin can be given at the
standard dose for 7 days (see Table 1 of the main report) if the preferred treatment is not available.
21 of 29
Uncomplicated malaria
Quinine is not thought to be teratogenic.1014 There is no RCT on quinine efficacy in pregnancy from Africa,
where most UK patients acquire their malaria infection. Quinine is assumed to be safe and efficacious, based
on historical data15,16 and on published trials, mostly from women from South East Asia.17 Unacceptably high
failure rates have been reported with quinine monotherapy when treatment has been given in the context of
an RCT. In six trials from Thailand and Burma,1824 in all except one,18 there were 186 women who received
quinine monotherapy and it is no longer recommended.2 Clindamycin augments the efficacy of quinine
significantly.22 The single RCT on the effectiveness of 5 days of quinine in pregnancy resulted in failure rates
greater than 30%.24 As quinine is a rapidly eliminated antimalarial,25 cure rates are improved with 7 day
regimens, although they are poorly complied with. Note that the 5 day recommendation in the UK guidelines
is for non-pregnant adults and should not be used in pregnancy.1 Patients may deteriorate under treatment, at
which point, management should be upgraded to account for severity.
The safety of clindamycin in pregnancy has been established in non-malaria studies.2633 It has been shown to
be effective when used in combination against falciparum malaria in numerous settings,3436 including in
pregnancy.22,3739
WHO recommends artemisinin-based combination therapy in the second and third trimesters,2,8 ahead
of quinine and clindamycin, principally because of the adverse effects and risk of non-compliance with the
7-day regimen. There are now reassuring data on more than 2000 pregnancy outcomes with the use of
artemisinins,5,2022,40,4160 principally for uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy. Most of these studies have been
RCTs in pregnant women from Africa and Asia.20,21,4044 This means there is now more published evidence on
artemisinins in pregnancy than there is for quinine. Only one of these highly effective therapies is available in
the UK (Riamet, Novartis). For nonpregnant adults in the UK, malaria treatment guidelines prescribe three
oral regimens for uncomplicated malaria, including oral quinine and doxycycline; atovaquone-proguanil, four
standard tablets daily for 3 days; and Riamet, four tablets/day for weight over 35 kg. While doxycycline can be
replaced with clindamycin and combined with quinine, the other two regimens have no alternatives but have
been studied in the context of RCTs in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Atovaquone-proguanil alone (n = 26)61 and atovaquone-proguanil-artesunate (n = 100)20,47,49,61 were safe and
efficacious for uncomplicated P. falciprum in the second and third trimesters. Tinnitus was reported in 79.3%
of those on quinine compared with 24.1% of those treated with atovaquone-proguanil-artesunate (P < 0.001)
in the RCT.20 Of the 126 women treated, most were followed through until pregnancy outcome and no
adverse effects for the mother or fetus were observed.The product information sheet for Malarone says that,
while there are no adequate and well-controlled studies of atovaquone and/or proguanil hydrochloride in
pregnant women, Malarone may be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus62.The
same product information sheet also ignores the largest single site study ever performed on Malarone, which
included 1596 nonpregnant patients randomised to receive atovaquone-proguanil, atovaquone-proguanilartesunate or artesunate-mefloquine for uncomplicated malaria and followed-up for 42 days.63 Adding
artesunate to atovaquone-proguanil reduced the risk of failure three-fold (95% CI 1.18.2) although the cure
rate of atovaquone-proguanil (without the addition of artesunate) was very high, 97.2% (95% CI 95.498.4).
Atovaquone-proguanil (with or without artesunate) is likely to be a useful 3-day treatment in the treatment of
P. falciparum in the second and third trimesters if it has not been used for prophylaxis (see Green-top
Guideline No. 54A).64
At the time of writing, there is only one published RCT on artemether-lumefantrine treatment in pregnancy
(n = 125) and, while the drug was well tolerated with no adverse effects on the mother or fetus, the efficacy
was disappointing, with a cure rate (by delivery or day 42 if later) of 82.0% (95% CI 74.889.3; P = 0.054).42
Pharmacokinetic data demonstrated lowered concentrations of artemether and lumefantrine in pregnancy.57
Polymerase chain reaction confirmed that failures were as early as day 14 and 53% (9/17) had occurred at 3
weeks. Mathematical modelling has suggested an increase in the dose and length of treatment would result in
22 of 29
higher cure rates.65 Two abstracts presented at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual
Meeting in December 2008 analysed:
1001 pregnant women (artemether and lumefantrine treated, n = 495 and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine
treated, n = 506) and their fetuses or newborns (artemether and lumefantrine treated, n = 470 and
sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, n = 477) and reported no adverse effects on the fetus55
preliminary results on 304 women who received artemether-lumefantrine or quinine as part of an RCT in
Uganda on uncomplicated malaria in the second and third trimesters, which demonstrated high efficacy and
no adverse effects on the fetus.
The product information sheet applies the usual pharmaceutical safeguard statement that it should not be
withheld in life-threatening situations, where no other effective antimalarials are available. During the second
and third trimester, treatment should only be considered if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the
risk to the fetus, until dose optimisation studies are completed.66 However, given the reassuring data on nearly
1000 pregnant women, and the fact that it is available in the UK, it can be recommended in second and third
trimesters.
Chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine are no longer recommended for P. falciparum treatment, owing
to resistance,1 with supporting data from poor efficacy in RCTs in pregnant women.41,43,67,68
Non-falciparum malaria
The first step in the treatment in the UK of the non-falciparum infections P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae (and
P. knowlesi) is chloroquine to treat the symptoms caused by blood-stage infection (see Table 1 of the main
text).1 For P. vivax and P. ovale, there is a second step: the treatment of the liver-stage hypnozoites (radical
cure), which causes relapse, sometimes years later. In nonpregnant adults, a course of primaquine is normally
prescribed.69 In the UK, more than 10% of patients with imported P. vivax treated with chloroquine followed
by unsupervised primaquine 15 mg/day for 14 days relapse70 and higher-dose primaquine 30 mg/day for 14
days has been found to be more effective.71,72 Hence, there are different dosing schedules for P. ovale and P.
vivax. Primaquine is contraindicated in pregnancy, as it could induce haemolysis and methaemo-globinaemia
in the fetus.73,74 Therefore, radical cure in pregnancy is not recommended until after delivery. There are no data
on primaquine in breast milk. Fetal red blood cells are almost entirely replaced by adult red blood cells by 6
months of life. It is advisable to wait for some replacement of fetal red blood cells with adult red blood cells,
which are less sensitive to haemolysis, before radical cure with primaquine in the mother. There are no
published data on the use of primaquine treatment in young infants, so a cut-off age cannot be recommended,
but 3 months of age is likely to be safe. To prevent relapse of P. vivax or P. ovale before delivery, weekly
chloroquine (300 mg) can be given (see Table 1 of the main report). It is safe and effective and has been
studied in a large RCT involving 1000 women. Infants were followed to 1 year of life and no adverse effects
for the mother or fetus were observed.75
Evidence from nonpregnant patients has demonstrated that chloroquine-resistant P. vivax should be treated
in the same way as chloroquine resistant P. falciparum.45,7679 However, the UK guidelines recommend
chloroquine and alternative treatment if there are persistent parasites or symptoms present. In pregnant
women, this could result in the onset of premature labour, whereas effective first-line treatment can prevent
this outcome.The combination of quinine and clindamycin is likely to have higher cure rates than chloroquine
for women with P. vivax infection and a history of travel in Indonesia or Papua New Guinea.45,78,79
Where blood or plasma concentrations of antimalarial drugs have been measured in late pregnancy, they have
usually been found to be reduced, indicating under-dosing. For artemether, dihyroartemisinin, atovaquone,
proguanil and lumefantrine, the reductions have been substantial and are likely to have contributed to poor
therapeutic responses.80,81
23 of 29
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N, Seal A, et al. Adverse pregnancy outcomes in an area where
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falciparum infections are endemic. Clin Infect Dis
2008;46:137481.
46. McGready R, Cho T, Keo NK,Thwai KL, Villegas L,
Looareesuwan S, et al. Artemisinin antimalarials in pregnancy: a
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47. McGready R, Keo NK, Villegas L, White NJ, Looareesuwan S,
Nosten F. Artesunate-atovaquone-proguanil rescue treatment of
multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in
pregnancy: a preliminary report. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
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48. Rijken MJ, McGready R, Boel ME, Barends M, Proux S,
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49. McGready R, Stepniewska K, Edstein MD, Cho T, Gilveray G,
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Dubowitz L, et al. Artemisinin derivatives in the treatment of
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following oral artesunate treatment of pregnant women with
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remote reactions of artemisinin (Qinghaosu) and artemether in
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61. Na-Bangchang K, Manyando C, Ruengweerayut R, Kioy D,
Mulenga M, Miller GB, et al.The pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics of atovaquone and proguanil for the
treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in thirdtrimester pregnant women. Eur J Clin Pharmacol
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62. GlaxoSmithKline. Prescribing Information: Malarone Tablets
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McGready R, et al.Treatment of uncomplicated multidrugresistant falciparum malaria with artesunate-atovaquoneproguanil. Clin Infect Dis 2002;35:1498504.
64. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Preventing
Malaria in Pregnancy. Green-top Guideline No. 54A. London:
RCOG; 2010.
65. Tarning J, McGready R, Lindegardh N, Ashley EA, Pimanpanarak
M, Kamanikom B, et al. Population pharmacokinetics of
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malaria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2009;53:383746.
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67. Keuter M, van Eijk A, Hoogstrate M, Raasveld M, van de Ree M,
Ngwawe WA, et al. Comparison of chloroquine, pyrimethamine
and sulfadoxine, and chlorproguanil and dapsone as treatment
for falciparum malaria in pregnant and non-pregnant women,
Kakamega District, Kenya. Br Med J 1990;301:46670.
68. Tagbor H, Bruce J, Browne E, Randal A, Greenwood B,
Chandramohan D. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of
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in combination for malaria treatment in pregnancy: a
randomised trial. Lancet 2006;368:134956.
69. Arnold J, Alving AS, Hockwald RS, Clayman CB, Dern RJ, Beutler
E, et al.The effect of continuous and intermittent primaquine
therapy on the relapse rate of Chesson strain vivax malaria. J
Lab Clin Med 1954;44:42938.
70. Doherty JF, Day JH, Warhurst DC, Chiodini PL.Treatment of
Plasmodium vivax malaria: time for a change? Trans R Soc Trop
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71. Fryauff DJ, Baird JK, Basri H, Sumawinata I, Purnomo, Richie TL,
et al. Randomised placebo-controlled trial of primaquine for
prophylaxis of falciparum and vivax malaria. Lancet
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pregnancy. Drug Saf 1996;14:13145.
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Saf 2004;27:2561.
75. Villegas L, McGready R, Htway M, Paw MK, Pimanpanarak M,
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76. Baird JK, Basri H, Purnomo, Bangs MJ, Subianto B, Patchen LC,
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77. Pukrittayakamee S, Clemens R, Chantra A, Nontprasert A,
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78. Ratcliff A, Siswantoro H, Kenangalem E, Wuwung M, Brockman
A, Edstein MD, et al.Therapeutic response of multidrugresistant Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax to chloroquine
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79. Ratcliff A, Siswantoro H, Kenangalem E, Maristela R, Wuwung

RM, Laihad F, et al.Two fixed-dose artemisinin combinations for
drug-resistant falciparum and vivax malaria in Papua, Indonesia:
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80. White NJ, McGready RM, Nosten FH. New medicines for
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2008;5:e133.
81. Ward SA, Sevene EJ, Hastings IM, Nosten F, McGready R.
Antimalarial drugs and pregnancy: safety, pharmacokinetics,
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26 of 29
APPENDIX IV: Persistence of Plasmodium falciparum in the placenta after apparently

effective quinidine-clindamycin therapy
The persistence of Plasmodium falciparum in the placenta after apparently adequate therapy with quinine
has been described.1 This phenomenon is described in the placenta of a 19-year-old woman with falciparum
malaria, who was treated with a combination of quinidine and clindamycin. Although this therapy was
effective and diminished (her peripheral blood parasitemia from 3% at presentation to almost undetectable at
the time of delivery) vast numbers of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes were present in the maternal
sinusoids of the placenta. This sequestration of infected erythrocytes produced a local parasitaemia in the
placenta of 7080%. Additionally, rare Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes were also seen in the fetal blood of
the placenta. Malaria in pregnancy and parasitic involvement of the placenta are reviewed and it is
emphasised that Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes may persist in the placenta even after clearance of
parasites from the peripheral blood.
Reference
1.
Procop GW, Jessen R, Hyde SR, Scheck DN. Persistence of Plasmodium falciparum in the placenta after apparently effective
quinidine/clindamycin therapy. J Perinatol 2001;21:12830.
27 of 29
APPENDIX V
Clinical guidelines are: systematically developed statements which assist clinicians and patients in
making decisions about appropriate treatment for specific conditions. Each guideline is systematically
developed using a standardised methodology. Exact details of this process can be found in Clinical
Governance Advice No. 1: Development of RCOG Green-top Guidelines (available on the RCOG website
at www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/development-rcog-green-top-guidelinespolicies-and-processes). These recommendations are not intended to dictate an exclusive course of
management or treatment. They must be evaluated with reference to individual patient needs, resources
and limitations unique to the institution and variations in local populations. It is hoped that this process of
local ownership will help to incorporate these guidelines into routine practice.Attention is drawn to areas
of clinical uncertainty where further research may be indicated within the appropriate health services.
The evidence used in this guideline was graded using the scheme below and the recommendations
formulated in a similar fashion with a standardised grading scheme. Once adapted for local use, these
guidelines are no longer representative of the RCOG.
Classification of evidence levels

1++ High-quality meta-analyses, systematic
reviews of randomised controlled trials or
randomised controlled trials with a very low
risk of bias
1+
Well-conducted meta-analyses, systematic

reviews of randomised controlled trials
or randomised controlled trials with a
low risk of bias
Meta-analyses, systematic reviews of

randomised controlled trials or
randomised controlled trials with a high
risk of bias
2++ High-quality systematic reviews of

casecontrol or cohort studies or highquality casecontrol or cohort studies
with a very low risk of confounding, bias
or chance and a high probability that the
relationship is causal
2+
3
4
Well-conducted casecontrol or cohort

studies with a low risk of confounding,
bias or chance and a moderate probability that the relationship is causal
Casecontrol or cohort studies with a
high risk of confounding, bias or chance
and a significant risk that the
relationship is not causal
Non-analytical studies; e.g. case reports,
case series
Grades of recommendations
A body of evidence including studies rated as

2++ directly applicable to the target
population and demonstrating overall
consistency of results; or
Extrapolated evidence from studies rated as
1++ or 1+
A body of evidence including studies rated as
2+ directly applicable to the target population
and demonstrating overall consistency of
results; or
2++
Evidence level 3 or 4; or
2+
Good practice point
Expert opinion
At least one meta-analysis, systematic reviews

or randomised controlled trial rated as 1++
and directly applicable to the target
population; or
A systematic review of randomised controlled
trials or a body of evidence consisting
principally of studies rated as 1+, directly
applicable to the target population and
demonstrating overall consistency of results
28 of 29
Recommended best practice based on the

clinical experience of the guideline
development group
This Guideline was produced on behalf of the Guidelines Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists by: Dr R McGready PhD Dip RANZCOG, Mae Sot, Thailand; Dr EA Ashley PhD, London; Professor F
Nosten MD PhD, Mae Sot, Thailand; Dr M Rijken MD PhD, Mae Sot, Thailand; A Dundorp MD PhD, Bangkok, Thailand.
This guideline was peer reviewed by: Dr A Diaf MRCOG, Birmingham; RCOG Consumers Forum; Mr SA Walkinshaw
MRCOG, Liverpool; Dr C Whitty FRCP, London; the Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention in UK Travellers: Dr BA
Bannister FRCP, London; Dr D Lalloo FRCP, Liverpool; Professor P Chiodini FRCP, London.
The Guidelines Committee lead peer reviewers were: Dr ALM David MRCOG, London, and Professor F McAuliffe
FRCOG, Dublin.
The final version is the responsibility of the Guidelines Committee of the RCOG.
The guideline review process will commence in 2013
unless otherwise indicated
DISCLAIMER
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists produces guidelines as an educational aid to good clinical
practice. They present recognised methods and techniques of clinical practice, based on published evidence, for
consideration by obstetricians and gynaecologists and other relevant health professionals. The ultimate judgement
regarding a particular clinical procedure or treatment plan must be made by the doctor or other attendant in the light
of clinical data presented by the patient and the diagnostic and treatment options available within the appropriate
health series.
This means that RCOG Guidelines are unlike protocols or guidelines issued by employers, as they are not intended to
be prescriptive directions defining a single course of management. Departure from the local prescriptive protocols or
guidelines should be fully documented in the patients case notes at the time the relevant decision is taken. Once
adapted for local use, these guidelines no longer represent the views of the RCOG.
29 of 29

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Green-top Guideline No.

The diagnosis and treatment of malaria in pregnancy

The diagnosis and treatment of malaria in pregnancy

Purpose and scope

RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 54b

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Identification and assessment of the evidence

Limitations of the data used in this guidelines

Definition of terms used in this guideline

5.1 Severe and complicated malaria

5.2 Uncomplicated malaria

5.3 Congenital malaria

RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 54b

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Box 1. Clinical and laboratory findings of severe or complicated malaria in adults

Respiratory distress (acidotic breathing, acute respiratory distress syndrome)*

Pulmonary oedema (including radiological)*

Circulatory collapse, shock (blood pressure < 90/60 mmHg)

Abnormal bleeding, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy

Haemoglobinuria (without G6PD deficiency)

Severe anaemia (Haemoglobin < 8.0 g/dl)

Hypoglycaemia (< 2.2 mmol/l)*

Acidosis (pH < 7.3)

Hyperlactataemia (correlates with mortality)

Hyperparasitaemia (> 2% parasitised red blood cells)

Algid malaria - Gram-negative septicaemia*

Lumbar puncture to exclude meningitis

* Common features in pregnant women with severe or complicated malaria

5.4 Artemisinin combination therapy

6. Diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy

6.1 Why is malaria diagnosis difficult?

RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 54b

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Box 2. Symptoms and signs of malaria

6.2 How should malaria in pregnancy be diagnosed?

RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 54b

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool

the presence and count of mature trophozoites and schizonts of P. falciparum

RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 54b

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

6.3 Is the severity of malaria a useful aid in managing the infection?

How is malaria infection treated during pregnancy?

Treat malaria in pregnancy as an emergency.

Use chloroquine to treat P. vivax, P. ovale or P. malariae.

Primaquine should not be used in pregnancy.

Do not persist with oral therapy if vomiting is persistent.

Treat the fever with antipyretics.

Screen women with malaria for anaemia and treat appropriately.

Write a management plan for follow-up, to ensure detection of relapse.

7.1 Drug treatment

RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 54b

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Table 1. UK treatment guidelines in pregnancy3

Drug and dosage

Any species (for specific cases after

Artesunate IV 2.4 mg/kg at 0, 12 and 24 hours, then daily thereafter.