Co-occurrence of pfkelch13 and pfmdr1 variants in a recurrent Plasmodium falciparum infection following standard artemether-lumefantrine treatment.
Joana Laranjinha, Andréa Luciana S da Silva, Sara B Lopes et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A patient with metabolic comorbidities developed recurrent Plasmodium falciparum infection after standard artemether-lumefantrine treatment. The recurrent infection involved mutant parasites carrying variants in both pfkelch13 and pfmdr1. The report highlights the co-occurrence of these parasite variants in the setting of recurrence, while noting that host factors may also influence antimalarial drug exposure. The abstract does not specify how the recurrence was managed or resolved.
What made this case unusual
The recurrent infection involved parasites with variants in both pfkelch13 and pfmdr1, alongside the patient’s metabolic comorbidities.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
When P. falciparum infection recurs after artemether-lumefantrine, parasite resistance-associated variants and host factors that could affect drug exposure may both warrant investigation.
Why it matters
The report supports genomic surveillance of antimalarial resistance and further study of host factors that may influence drug exposure.