Severe Embryotoxicity of Artemisinin Derivatives in Experimental Animals, but Possibly Safe in Pregnant Women

Severe embryotoxicity of artemisinin derivatives in experimental animals, but possibly safe in pregnant women.

Preclinical studies in rodents have demonstrated that artemisinins, especially injectable artesunate, can induce fetal death and congenital malformations at a low dose range. The embryotoxicity can be induced in those animals only within a narrow window in early embryogenesis. Evidence was presented that the mechanism by which embryotoxicity of artemisinins occurs seems to be limited to fetal e...

Electrical cardioversion in healthy pregnant women: safe yes, but needed?

Sustained maternal arrhythmias during pregnancy that would require an electrical intervention are rare. The incidence and mechanisms, as well as the need for intervention, depend strongly on the background disease of the mother (to be). Electrical intervention may be indicated only with severe symptoms and drug refractory arrhythmias. The two cases of attempted electrical cardio-versions (and a...

Artemisinin derivatives for treating severe malaria.

BACKGROUND Artemisinin derivatives may have advantages over quinoline drugs for treating severe malaria since they are fast acting and effective against quinine resistant malaria parasites. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to assess the effects of artemisinin drugs for severe and complicated falciparum malaria in adults and children. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Infec...

Scorpion Venom Pisoning in Experimental Animals

Pharmacokinetic (PK) and Pharmacodynamic Profiles of Artemisinin Derivatives Influence Drug Neurotoxicity in Animals