Data for: Dose Finding Study of Pentoxifylline in Children With Cerebral Malaria

Pentoxifylline (PTX) affects many processes that may contribute to the pathogenesis of severe malaria and it has been shown to reduce the duration of coma in children with cerebral malaria. This pilot study was performed to assess pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of PTX in African children with cerebral malaria.

Ten children admitted to the high dependency unit of the Kilifi District Hospital in Kenya with cerebral malaria (Blantyre coma score of 2 or less) received quinine plus a continuous infusion of 10 mg/kg/24 hours PTX for 72 hours. Five children were recruited as controls and received normal saline instead of PTX. Plasma samples were taken for PTX and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) levels. Blantyre Coma Score, parasitemia, hematology and vital signs were assessed 4 hourly.

The dataset contains:

• Demographic details of the patient, history of disease, and clinical findings (vital signs, oxygen saturation, respiratory status, Blantyre coma score recorded on admission
• Laboratory on admission included parasitaemia, full blood count and differential white cell count, glucose, blood culture, blood gas analysis, electrolytes, creatinine, lactate, and aspartate transaminase (AST). Parasite density was counted per 100 white blood cells or, for high parasitaemia, per 500 red blood cells and expressed in parasites per μL

A detailed description of the study design is given in the study protocol and results as reported by Lell, B., Köhler, C., Wamola, B., Olola, C.H., Kivaya, E., Kokwaro, G., Wypij, D., Mithwani, S., Taylor, T.E., Kremsner, P.G. and Newton, C.R., 2010. Pentoxifylline as an adjunct therapy in children with cerebral malaria. Malaria journal, 9(1), p.368. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-9-368. The study is also registered on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00133393.