Availability and use of parenteral quinidine gluconate for severe or complicated malaria.

Since 1991, quinidine gluconate, a class 1a anti-arrhythmic agent, has been the only parenteral antimalarial available for use in the United States (1). It is indicated for the treatment of patients with life-threatening Plasmodium falciparum malaria (2), including those who cannot tolerate oral therapy, have high-grade parasitemia, or have complications (e.g., cerebral malaria or acute renal failure).