Plasmodium vivax remains responsive to chloroquine with primaquine treatment regimen: a prospective cohort study from tertiary care teaching hospital in southern India.

We conducted this prospective study among 110 symptomatic Plasmodium vivax patients attending the Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India, in order to evaluate their clinico-laboratory profile during July 2007-July 2009. Complications observed among patients were: anaemia (46.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 37.08-55.72%); thrombocytopenia (68.2%; 95% CI, 59.5-76.9%); leucopenia (29.1%; 95% CI, 20.61-37.59%); hyperbilirubinaemia (20%; 95% CI, 12.53-27.47%); non-oliguric renal failure (10.9%; 95% CI, 5.08-16.72%); elevated serum transaminases (33.6%; 95% CI, 24.77-42.43%); hypotension (8.2%; 95% CI, 3.07-13.33%); hepatomegaly (27.3%; 95% CI, 18.97-35.63%); and splenomegaly and jaundice in 12.7% (95% CI, 6.48-18.92%). The 99% chloroquine response and zero mortality observed in this study of vivax malaria are encouraging points for practicing physicians.