Paracetamol Effect on Oxidative Stress and Renal Function in Severe Malaria

Paracetamol Effect on Oxidative Stress and Renal Function in Severe Falciparum Malaria With Intravascular Haemolysis: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial

Blackwater fever, characterized by intravascular haemolysis and hemoglobinuria, is an important cause of renal impairment and mortality in severe malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. The largest malaria clinical trials report blackwater incidences of 5-7% in Asian adults and 4% in African children with severe malaria treated with artesunate or quinine. The prevalence of blackwater fever in Chittagong, Bangladesh is 15% with associated rates of renal failure and mortality of 42.9% and 14.2% respectively.

The fundamental characteristic of blackwater fever is the presence of intravascular hemolysis of both infected and uninfected erythrocytes and release of free haemoglobin. The cytotoxic free haemoglobin present can cause severe oxidative damage as a result of haem redox cycling yielding ferric and ferryl heme, which generate radical species that induce lipid peroxidation and subsequent production of F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs). Evidence suggests that F2-IsoPs generated by the hemoprotein-catalyzed oxidation of lipids are responsible for the oxidative damage and vasoconstriction associated with renal injury in haemolytic disorders and rhabdomyolysis.

A novel mechanism of paracetamol was recently demonstrated, showing that paracetamol is a potent inhibitor of hemoprotein-catalyzed lipid peroxidation by reducing ferryl heme to its less toxic ferric state and quenching globin radicals. In a recent proof of concept trial, paracetamol at therapeutic levels was shown to significantly decrease oxidant kidney injury, improve renal function and reduce renal damage by inhibiting the hemoprotein-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in a rat model of rhabdomyolysis-induced renal injury. Since adults with severe malaria demonstrate increased concentrations of cell-free haemoglobin, and urinary F2-IsoPs, the investigators hypothesize that this novel inhibitory mechanism of paracetamol may provide renal protection in this population by reducing the hemoprotein-induced lipid peroxidation. As there is currently no consensus that exists concerning adequate medical treatment for blackwater fever, the potential application of this safe and extensively used drug would be of great benefit.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Malaria
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Paracetamol; Drug: No Paracetamol

Detailed Description

Mortality in severe malaria remains ~15% despite the best available parasiticidal antimalarial therapy, intravenous artesunate. Adjunctive therapies in combination with anti-parasitic drugs have the potential to improve outcomes. However, currently there are no proven adjunctive therapies for the treatment of severe malaria, which can improve case-fatality when used in combination with anti-parasitic drugs. This research proposal focuses on exploring if paracetamol prevents renal dysfunction caused by free haemoglobin induced oxidative damage in severe malaria.

Blackwater fever epidemiology As early as the 1800s, blackwater fever complicating severe malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum was recognized as an important cause of morbidity and mortality, with a 25-30% mean mortality rate. The etiology and pathogenesis is poorly understood but it is characterized by massive intravascular haemolysis and passage of black or red urine, which can lead to renal impairment and death. This manifestation was linked to quinine therapy as its occurrence nearly disappeared during the chloroquine era from 1950 to 1980. Since 1990, the resurgence in the number of cases noted in both malaria-free and malarious areas in non-immune and immune individuals has generated renewed interest into this manifestation of severe malaria. The largest malaria clinical trials report blackwater fever incidences of 7% and 4% in Asian adult patients with severe malaria treated with artesunate and quinine, respectively and 4% in African children treated with either drug. The prevalence of blackwater fever in Chittagong, Bangladesh was recently determined in a pilot study to be 15% with associated renal failure and mortality rates of 42.9% and 14.2% respectively.

Blackwater fever pathogenesis Although the exact mechanism linking falciparum malaria and blackwater fever is uncertain, numerous explanations have been suggested. It has been proposed to occur in 4 specific circumstances: (1) in case patients with G6PD deficiency with or without malaria who take oxidant drugs (primaquine) (2) in case patients with G6PD deficiency and malaria untreated and treated with quinine (3) when patients (normal G6PD) with severe malaria are treated with quinine (4) when people exposed to malaria self-medicate with quinine or related amino-alcohol drugs. However, new circumstances of blackwater fever have emerged, occurring in patients with normal G6PD levels with severe malaria who have received artesunate rather than quinine.

Role of oxidative stress and free haem The fundamental characteristic of blackwater fever is the presence of massive haemolysis of both infected and uninfected erythrocytes and release of free haemoglobin. The free haem is highly cytotoxic, and an important scavenger of nitric oxide, promoting endothelial damage and is proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of renal injury and cerebral malaria. When the degree of intravascular haemolysis exceeds the capacity of plasma haptoglobin to bind the haemoglobin released from red blood cells, free haemoglobin is then filtered by the glomeruli and enters the renal tubules. In a series of renal biopsies, fine and coarse haemoglobin granules are present in the proximal tubules, while haemoglobin casts and granular casts predominate in the distal and collecting tubules in patients with blackwater fever and intravascular haemolysis. This classic theory of renal damage by tubular precipitation is challenged by recent findings of reversing oxidative properties of free haem can prevent renal damage. The free haemoglobin present is pathogenic as the ferrous haem can be oxidized to the ferric state (FeIII) subsequently conferring peroxidase activity to the haemoglobin. Consequently, the haemoglobin can reduce hydroperoxides, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipid hydroperoxides, which generate the ferryl state (FeIV=O) of haemoglobin and a globin protein radical.

Haem Fe(III) protein + H2O2 --> haem [Fe(IV)=O] protein• + H+ + H2O The ferryl haem and protein radical can then generate lipid radicals by oxidation of free and phospholipid-esterified unsaturated fatty acids. The arachidonic side chains of membrane phospholipids are particularly vulnerable to this free radical-mediated damage in the complex cascade of lipid oxidation leading to the generation of F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs) and isofurans (IsoFs). Evidence suggests that F2-isoPs generated by the haemoprotein-catalyzed oxidation of lipids are responsible for the oxidative damage and vasoconstriction associated with renal injury in the setting of hemolytic disorders and rhabdomyolysis.

Paracetamol and oxidative stress A novel mechanism of paracetamol was recently demonstrated, showing that paracetamol acts as a potent inhibitor of haemoprotein-catalyzed lipid peroxidation by reducing ferryl haem to its less toxic ferric state and quenching globin radicals. This effect is enhanced 14-fold in an acidic milieu. In a recent proof of concept trial, paracetamol at therapeutic levels was shown to significantly decrease oxidant injury in the kidney, improve renal function and reduce renal damage by inhibiting the haemoprotein-catalyzed lipid peroxidation, mediated by redox cycling of the haem moiety of myoglobin, in a rat model of rhabdomyolysis-induced renal injury.

Rationale Since adults with severe malaria and blackwater fever associated with haemolysis demonstrate increased concentrations of cell-free haemoglobin, severe acidosis and urinary F2-IsoPs, the investigators hypothesize that this novel inhibitory mechanism of paracetamol may provide renal protection in this population by reducing the haemoprotein-induced lipid peroxidation. As there is currently no consensus that exists concerning adequate medical treatment for blackwater fever, the potential application of this safe and extensively used drug would be of great benefit.

Proposed activities The main activity proposed is a randomised open label controlled study of paracetamol in patients with severe falciparum malaria to assess its modulating effect on renal function and oxidative stress.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 62
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Bangladesh
  • Chittagong, Bangladesh
    • Chittagong Medical College Hospital
  • Ramu, Bangladesh
    • Ramu Upazilla Health Complex

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 10 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patient age >12 years
2. Presence of severe or moderately severe P. falciparum malaria, with and without blackwater fever, confirmed by positive blood smear with asexual forms of P. falciparum
3. Temperature >38 degrees Celsius on admission or fever during the preceding 24hours
4. Written informed consent from patient or attending relative able to and willing to give informed consent. Consent form and information sheets will be translated into Bangla and copies provided to the patient.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient or relatives unable or unwilling to give informed consent
2. History of chronic liver disease
3. History of alcohol use (>3drinks per day)
4. Contraindication or allergy to paracetamol or artesunate therapy
5. Contraindication to nasogastric tube insertion i.e. facial fracture, bleeding diathesis
6. Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Paracetamol; >50kg: Paracetamol 1gm PO/NG q6hourly for 72 hours and febrile for 24 hours (maximum total dose 4g/24 hours) plus intravenous Artesunate <50kg: Paracetamol 12.5-15mg/kg/dose q6hourly for 72 hours and febrile for 24 hours (maximum total dose 5 doses/24hours;75mg/kg) plus intravenous Artesunate	Drug: Paracetamol; >50kg: Paracetamol 1gm PO/NG q6hourly for 72hours and afebrile for 24h (maximum total dose 4g/24 hours) plus intravenous Artesunate <50kg: Paracetamol 12.5-15mg/kg/dose q6hourly for 72hours and afebrile for 24h (maximum total dose 5 doses/24hours;75mg/kg) plus intravenous Artesunate
Active Comparator: No Paracetamol; No paracetamol + Intravenous Artesunate; If temperature > 40°C, ibuprofen PO/PR will be administered in the absence of renal impairment and dehydration; 500mg paracetamol PO/PR will be administered in the presence of renal impairment or dehydration. Dengue testing will be done prior to the administration of ibuprofen.	Drug: No Paracetamol; No paracetamol + Intravenous Artesunate; If temperature > 40°C, ibuprofen PO/PR will be administered in the absence of renal impairment and dehydration; 500mg paracetamol PO/PR will be administered in the presence of renal impairment or dehydration. Dengue testing will be done prior to the administration of ibuprofen.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effect of paracetamol concentrations	Compare the effect of therapeutic paracetamol concentrations compared with absent or low paracetamol concentration on renal function, peak creatinine levels or trough creatinine clearance, defined as the change at 72 hours compared to baseline, in patients with severe and moderately severe falciparum malaria stratified by the level of intravascular haemolysis (cell-free haemoglobin).	72 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Compare treatment arm with control arm with respect to duration of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and development of AKI.	Duration of AKI will be defined as the length of time elapsed until serum creatinine returns to normal (<1mg/dL) in the absence of renal replacement therapy. Development of AKI will be assessed using the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria, and by a creatinine increase of >= 0.5mg/dl or 25%. Plasma paracetamol concentration will be measured daily by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS).	14 days
Compare between groups correlations between oxidative stress, cell-free hemoglobin and renal function	Urine and plasma F2-isoprostanes and isofurans will be measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cell-free haemoglobin measured as plasma concentration by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on admission then daily for 72hours. Cell free haem measured in plasma using a chromogenic assay on admission then daily for 72hours. Haem-to-protein cross-links measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on admission and daily for 72hours.	3 days
Assessment of Blackwater fever and association with renal function	Blackwater fever assessed using a standardized urine colour chart and urine haemoglobin every 6 hours until clinical recovery between groups.	7 days
Mortality and hemodialysis trends	To compare mortality and hemodialysis trends between groups and evaluate if they correlate with level of oxidative stress, cell free haemoglobin and renal function.	4 weeks
Host factors of Intravascular Haemolysis	Intravascular haemolysis according to G6PD status.	4 weeks
Fever clearance time	Compared fever clearance time defined as the time taken for the tympanic temperature to fall below 37.5°C and remain there for at least 24hours); Fever time defined as the duration in hours of an individuals temperature above 37.5°C; Area above the 37.5°C temperature versus time curve (AUC-T°) within first 24hours of treatment. Aural temperature will be measured every 6 hours until fever clearance.	7 days
Parasite clearance time	Parasite clearance time assessed by microscopy of peripheral blood films will be assessed every 6hours for the presence of asexual parasitaemia until negative on 2 consecutive blood films. Parasite half lives and clearance time will be compared between groups. Parasites will also be staged to assess if sequestration is inhibited due to temperature reduction.	7 days
Parasite sequestration	Parasite sequestration assessed by capillary flow in the rectal microcirculation using Orthogonal Polarization Spectral (OPS) imaging will be compared between groups.	7 days
Assessment of Acute Kidney Injury	Evaluation of pre-renal and acute tubular necrosis assessed by blood and urine biomarkers of pre-renal and renal injury including neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalcin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule (KIM).	7 days
Urine scoring of dehydration and haemolysis	Urine colour will be assessed by standardized urine colour charts. Urine colour will be correlated with urine specific gravity, urine osmolality, urine haemoglobin and creatinine clearance.	72 hours
Safety assessment	Safety assessed by the number of patients with serious adverse events (SAEs) and by changes from baseline in vital signs and laboratory measurements.	6 weeks
Assess the antimalarial drug sensitivity of patients treated with paracetamol	Preliminary in vitro studies suggest that paracetamol potentiates the anti-parasitic effect of artesunate as lower 50% inhibitory concentration of artesunate is observed when paracetamol is added to parasites in culture. We will investigate whether this effect is dependent on the infecting P. falciparum parasite strain	72 hours
Paracetamol pharmacokinetics	Pharmacokinetic modelling of oral paracetamol in severe and moderately severe malaria	72 hours
Paracetamol pharmacodynamics	Pharmacodynamics on variables including temperature and parasitemia.	72 hours
Area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC)	for paracetamol	72 hours
The maximum concentration (Cmax)	for paracetamol	72 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Oxford
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Katherine Plewes, MD, University of Oxford

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Plewes K, Kingston HWF, Ghose A, Wattanakul T, Hassan MMU, Haider MS, Dutta PK, Islam MA, Alam S, Jahangir SM, Zahed ASM, Sattar MA, Chowdhury MAH, Herdman MT, Leopold SJ, Ishioka H, Piera KA, Charunwatthana P, Silamut K, Yeo TW, Lee SJ, Mukaka M, Maude RJ, Turner GDH, Faiz MA, Tarning J, Oates JA, Anstey NM, White NJ, Day NPJ, Hossain MA, Roberts Ii LJ, Dondorp AM. Acetaminophen as a Renoprotective Adjunctive Treatment in Patients With Severe and Moderately Severe Falciparum Malaria: A Randomized, Controlled, Open-Label Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Sep 14;67(7):991-999. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy213.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 10, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 13, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): September 21, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 23, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 13, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): July 16, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 14, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 13, 2018
• Last Verified: June 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Oxidative stress; Paracetamol; Renal function; Falciparum malaria
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Vector Borne Diseases; Parasitic Diseases; Protozoan Infections; Malaria; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Antipyretics; Acetaminophen
• Other Study ID Numbers: BAKMAL1201