­Pharmacokinetics of antimalarial drugs used to treat uncomplicated malaria in breastfeeding mother-infant pairs: An observational pharmacokinetic study

Background: Data surrounding the exposure of the breastfed infant to drugs and any associated risks are sparse. Drugs usually are transferred to milk in small quantities, and many have been used without obviously noticeable infant toxicity for many years – this lack of a ‘safety signal’ has further reduced the interest in studying mother-to-infant transfer of the drugs. In sub-Saharan Africa, pregnant women are at risk of  Plasmodium falciparum infection, and one in four women have evidence of placental infection at the time of delivery. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), primarily artemether-lumefantrine (AL), are the current first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, with the same dosing recommendations in breastfeeding women as those in the adult population. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) is routinely used as an alternative to AL in Uganda. However, lactation pharmacokinetics (PK) of ACTs are unknown. Pharmacokinetic characterization of anti-malarial transfer to breast milk and breastfed infants is crucial in understanding the potential consequences to the infant, in terms of therapeutic- and prophylactic effects as well as potential toxicity.   Methods: This observational study will enroll 30 mother-infant pairs, and aims to characterize the breastmilk transfer of antimalarial medications (AL and DP) to infants when these ACTs are administered to mothers as part of treatment for uncomplicated malaria. In addition, we will assess the mental health of the breastfeeding mothers enrolled as well as the well-being of their children. PK samples of maternal blood, breastmilk and breastfeeding infant’s blood will be obtained at specific times points. Pharmacokinetic data will be analyzed using a population pharmacokinetic approach. Conclusions: We anticipate that findings from this research will guide to develop a PK model describing lumefantrine and piperaquine disposition and will provide a framework to foster other lactation pharmacokinetic studies in different disease areas.