A case of severe falciparum malaria successfully treated with intravenous artesunate and continuous hemodiafiltration

We report a 54-year-old Japanese man who contracted severe falciparum malaria after visiting West African countries. The patient presented with Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia of 10% on admission and was successfully treated with intravenous artesunate combined with continuous hemodiafiltration. We found that intravenous artesunate had excellent antimalarial activity with rapid parasite clearance and that few adverse effects were observed compared to those reported for intravenous quinine treatment. Supportive therapy was indispensable for saving the life of the patient. Few cases of intravenous artesunate treatment are reported in Japan because the drug has not been legally registered. We wish to emphasize the efficacy of intravenous artesunate with general supportive therapy in the treatment of possible imported severe malaria patients in Japanese medical settings.