Abstract
Mefloquine pharmacokinetics were studied in Kenyan African normal volunteers and in patients with severe acute attack ofPlasmodium falciparum malaria. Peak concentrations were achieved in both groups at 20 – 24 hours. The mean half-life of elimination was 385±150 hours (mean±SD) in normal subjects while in severe malaria it was 493 ±215 hours which was significantly longer (P<-0.001). The volume of distribution was significantly smaller in severe malaria where it was 30.76±10.501/kg (mean±SD) while in the normal subjects it was 40.90±20.70 1/kg (mean±SD) (P<-0.001). The total body clearance in severe malaria was 3.75±1.511/h (mean±SD). This was significantly lower than in the normal subjects where it was 5.15 ±1.50 1/h (mean±SD) (P<-0.001).