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Case Reports
. 2014 Mar 14:13:96.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-96.

Blackwater fever in an uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum patient treated with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine

Chanthap Lon  1 , Michele Spring, Somethy Sok, Soklyda Chann, Rathvichet Bun, Mali Ittiverakul, Nillawan Buathong, Khengheng Thay, Nareth Kong, Yom You, Worachet Kuntawunginn, Charlotte A Lanteri, David L Saunders
Affiliations
Case Reports

Blackwater fever in an uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum patient treated with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine

Chanthap Lon et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

The mechanism of massive intravascular haemolysis occurring during the treatment of malaria infection resulting in haemoglobinuria, commonly known as blackwater fever (BWF), remains unknown. BWF is most often seen in those with severe malaria treated with amino-alcohol drugs, including quinine, mefloquine and halofantrine. The potential for drugs containing artemisinins, chloroquine or piperaquine to cause oxidant haemolysis is believed to be much lower, particularly during treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Here is an unusual case of BWF, which developed on day 2 of treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum infection with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PIP) with documented evidence of concomitant seropositivity for Chikungunya infection.

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