[Clinical-Biological analyses and electrocardiographic follow-up of 104 cases of plasmodium falciparum malaria treated at Camp Kosseï in N'Djamena (Tchad)].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the commonly accepted potential effects of Artemisinin-based combinaison therapy (ACT) on repolarization and QT. METHOD: We realized a retrospective study, evaluating epidemiologic, clinical, biological and electrocardiographic data for patients treated for falciparum malaria, between August 31[st] and November 3[rd], 2017 in the Pôle de santé unique on the Camp Kosseï of N'Djamena. RESULTS: One hundred and four patients were included (28,6 years old [0 - 75 years], 72% male). All had fever (38,4 °C [36,6 - 41,5 °C]), asthenia, and main symptoms were headache and arthromyalgia (58%). No significant difference was noted after treatment concerning biological data (especially kaliemia: 3.81 versus 3.91 mmol/l, p = 0.154). There was no significant increase of QTc (415.8 versus 421.4 ms, p = 0.89) with the two ACT treatment used and no adverse events. DISCUSSION: Population is essentially composed of Chadian men, often partly immunized, that can modify clinical presentation. French soldiers' medical follow up in military operations decreases contra-indications of ACT. CONCLUSIONS: These results are in favor of a good cardiac tolerance of ACT with piperaquine and it should be proposed not to realize systematic ECG for the French soldiers in external operation when treated with ACT.