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Pharmacokinetics of Antimalarials in Breastfeeding Ugandan Mother-infant Pairs

Pharmacokinetics of Drugs Used to Treat Uncomplicated Malaria in Breastfeeding Mother-infant Pairs: An Observational Pharmacokinetic Study

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05676645
Acronym
MILK Malaria
Enrollment
30
Registered
2023-01-09
Start date
2023-03-20
Completion date
2026-12-25
Last updated
2026-05-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Malaria,Falciparum

Brief summary

Lactating women requiring treatment for uncomplicated malaria will be identified and invited for sampling. The decision to treat them with first-line treatment will have been made by the clinician, not by a member of the study team. The study team will not make any adjustments to the prescribed treatment. Artemether-lumefantrine comprises six doses of medication, with the initial two doses given 8 hours apart on Day 1, and dosing 12-hourly on Day 2 and Day 3. Intensive pharmacokinetic sampling will be undertaken after Dose 5, as indicated in the schema under Section 5: plasma and breastmilk samples will be obtained pre-dose and at 2, 4, 6, 8 hours after dose. In addition, sparse sampling will be undertaken on either of these occasions; at pre-dose and between 1 to 6 hours after the first dose; a trough (pre-dose) sample after the Dose 3 or Dose 4 and lastly at 5, 7, and up to 14-days after the first dose. A heelprick sample will also be obtained from the breastfed infants at maternal trough (prior to maternal dose) and at a random timepoint (once per infant) over the 8-hour pharmacokinetic sampling visit to characterize concentrations of these drugs over an 8-hour dosing interval. In addition, a single heelprick sample will be obtained from the infant whenever the mother returns after treatment for the late sampling time points (5, 7, and 14 days post the first dose). Due to the long half-life of lumefantrine of approximately 6 days plasma sampling will be performed up to day 14 to characterise the terminal elimination of the drug. Concentrations of total plasma and breastmilk lumefantrine and desbutyl-lumefantrine will be determined.

Detailed description

The endpoints of this study relate to the amount of antimalarial drug present in maternal blood, breastmilk and infant blood. The study is not powered for antimalarial efficacy, and therefore formal assessment of parasitological clearance is not required. The participants will be followed up until 30-40 days after completion of antimalarial therapy, and if recurrent symptoms occur, management will be as clinically indicated. Details regarding further clinical investigations and management required by either mother or infant during the follow-up period will be recorded on the CRF.

Interventions

DRUGArtemether-lumefantrine

National policy recommendation for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Uganda

Sponsors

University of Liverpool
Lead SponsorOTHER
Makerere University
CollaboratorOTHER
Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
14 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. A personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the participant has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study. 2. Participants who are willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures. 3. Woman is aged 18 years or older, and mothers between the age of 14-17, who are considered emancipated minors. 4. Receiving treatment for uncomplicated malaria 5. Breastfeeding at enrolment

Exclusion criteria

1. Severe maternal or infant illness which in the opinion of the patient's clinician would interfere with her participation in the study 2. Breastfed infant is aged over 12 months 3. Partner objection to participate in the study 4. Maternal objection to infant participation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
AUC0-24 of lumefantrine in maternal plasma and breastmilk0-24 hours after doseMaternal plasma exposure of lumefantrine
AUC0-24 of lumefantrine breastmilk0-24 hours after doseBreastmilk exposure of lumefantrine
Milk to plasma ratio of lumefantrine0-24 hours after doseRatio of AUC in breastmilk to maternal plasma

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
AUC desbutyl-lumefantrine plasma0-24 hours after dosePlasma exposure of active metabolite
AUC desbutyl-lumefantrine breastmilk0-24 hours after doseBreastmilk exposure of active metabolite
Milk to plasma ratio of desbutyl-lumefantrine0-24 hours after doseRatio of breastmilk to maternal plasma of active metabolite
Infant concentration lumefantrine0-8 hours after maternal doseInfant lumefantrine exposure
Infant concentration desbutyl-lumefantrine0-8 hours after maternal doseInfant exposure to active metabolite
Infant development0-1 year oldInfant assessment using Gross Motor Development Score (IGMDS)
Depression and anxiety in mothers0-1 year postpartumPatient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9)
Maternal beliefs about medicines0-1 year postpartumBeliefs about Medicines questionnaire (BMQ)

Countries

Uganda

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 7, 2026