Background
Methods
Study inclusion and exclusion criteria
Search strategy and selection criteria
Data extraction and analysis
Quality appraisal
Results
Study selection
General study characteristics
Study: First Author Place of study (Year) | Patient information | Malaria type | Malaria diagnosis | MB treatment | Follow-up | Efficacy outcome | Safety outcome | Other Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Randomised controlled trials | ||||||||
Coulibaly et al. Burkina Faso (2015) [55] | n = 193 (6–59-month-old children) |
P. falciparum
| By microscope | Arm 1: AS-AQ-MB (n = 92) (MB: 15 mg/kg per day for 3 days) Arm 2: AS-AQ (n = 101) Formulation: mini-tablets | 28 days | ACPR was 80% in arm 1, and 85% in arm 2. Significant lower gametocyte prevalence on day 7 in arm 1 compared to arm 2 (both microscopically and molecular biologically) Clearance of P. falciparum asexual parasites in AS-AQ-MB took 1.82 days compared to 1.96 days in the AS-AQ group | MB regimen was associated with more vomiting. Haemoglobin values were significantly lower in arm 1 than in arm 2 at day 2 and day 7 (difference 0.5–1.0 mg/dl) | (1) There were no differences in parents and caregivers self-reported acceptance rate between groups (2) The MB mini-tablets were provided on a spoon with local food to improve the acceptability for children |
n = 180 (6–10-year-old children) |
P. falciparum
| By microscope | Arm 1: MB-AS (n = 61) Arm 2: MB-AQ (n = 58) (MB: 20 mg/kg per day for 3 days) Arm 3: AS-AQ (n = 61) Formulation: taste-masked tablets | 28 days | ACPR was 62% in arm 1, 95% in arm 2 and 82% in arm 3 MB regimens were associated with a more rapid parasite clearance and significantly reduced gametocyte prevalence during follow-up | MB regimen was associated with vomiting and dysuria | Vomiting was shown to be much reduced by administering MB together with food | |
Meissner et al. Burkina Faso (2005) [58] | n = 226 (6–59-month-old children) |
P. falciparum
| By microscope | Arm 1: CQ-MB (n = 181) (MB: 4 mg/kg per day for 3 days) Arm 2: CQ (n = 45) Formulation: 0.5% MB solution | 14 days | ACPR was 56% (93/166) in arm 1 compared to 46% (19/41) in arm 2 | No differences in SAEs, and no cases of severe haemolysis No differences in haemoglobin over time in both the G6PD-deficient and G6PD-sufficient subgroups | Administration of the bitter-tasting MB solution was sometimes difficult, especially in younger children |
Non-randomised control trials | ||||||||
Bountogo et al. Burkina Faso (2010)a [59] | n = 60 (age range: 18–55 years, median 25) |
P. falciparum
| By microscope | Arm 1: MB for 7 days (n = 20) Arm 2: MB for 5 days (n = 20) Arm 3: MB for 3 days (n = 20) MB: 780 mg per day Formulation: taste-masked tablets | 28 days | Arm 1: 0/20 recrudescence Arm 2: 4/19 recrudescence Arm 3: 2/20 recrudescence | Dysuria (47/60). Gastrointestinal symptoms (13/60). No significant differences in adverse events between groups | MB was given at a dose of 390 mg twice daily after breakfast and supper |
Meissner et al. Burkina Faso (2006)b [60] | n = 435 (6–59-month-old children) |
P. falciparum
| By microscope | Arm 1: CQ-MB (n = 156) (MB: 12 mg/kg per day for 3 days) Arm 2: CQ-MB (n = 155) (MB: 18 mg/kg per day for 3 days) Arm 3: CQ-MB (n = 123) (MB: 24 mg/kg per day for 3 days) Formulation: 2.3% MB solution | 14 days | Overall clinical and parasitological cure rate on day 14 was 90% (326/364) and 77% (278/364) respectively, without differences between groups | There were three SAEs, one probably associated with MB Haemoglobin development was not associated with G6PD deficiency | MB was given with fruit flavouring and honey supplement to mask the bitter taste |
Alving (1949) Cited by Baird et al. USA (2012)a [61] | n = 37 |
P. vivax
| Clinical | Arm 1: IQ (n = 10) Arm 2: IQ-quinine (n = 15) Arm 3: IQ-MB (n = 9) (MB: 500 mg per day) Arm 4: IQ-MB-quinine (n = 3) (MB: 500 mg per day) All treatments were for 14 days | 14 days | Arm 1: 9/10 relapsed Arm 2: 5/15 relapsed Arm 3: 3/9 relapsed Arm 4: 0/3 relapsed | 1/10 in arm 1 experienced severe haemolysis; after being treated again with IQ plus MB for 14 days, no haemolysis | – |
Case series | ||||||||
Mayer Russia (1919) [62] | n = 3 |
P. malariae
| By microscope | 1000 mg per day over 30 days (16 days MB and 14 days breaks); MB divided into five doses of 200 mg per day | 52–72 days | 2/3: cure 1/3: relapsed after 4 months | Mild urogenital symptoms despite daily nutmeg application | – |
Panse Africa (1902) [63] | n = 2 |
P. malariae
| By microscope | Case 1: 400–1000 mg per day for 14 days Case 2: 600–1000 mg per day for 32 days | 14–32 days | Case 1: cure Case 2: failure | No safety information | Both patients were pretreated with quinine |
Glogner Indonesia (1901) [64] | n = 6 (2 adults, 4 children) |
P. vivax/ovale
| By microscope | Adults: 1000 mg every 2 days; 1000 mg per day Children: 300 mg per day every 5 days; 300 mg per day every 2 days | 2–7 months | 6/6 relapsed | No safety information | All patients were pretreated with quinine |
Ollwig (1899) Africa [65] | n = 10 | P. vivax/ovale (3/10) P. falciparum (4/10) P. malariae (1/10) P. vivax/ovale and P. falciparum (1/10) Unspecified (1/10) | By microscope | 300 mg per day to 1000 mg per day for 3 days to 14 days, followed by breaks of 5–8 days. The regimen was cycled up to 3 months | 8 days to 3 months | 7/10: cured 3/10: failure | Urogenital symptoms (n = 2) Vomiting after MB intake (n = 3) Diarrhoea (n = 1) | Frequent vomiting of MB reported in 2/3 failure cases 6/10 cases were pretreated with quinine Nutmeg was taken together with MB against urogenital symptoms |
Cardamatis Greece (1898) [66] | n = 275 (157/118 male/female); 129 children, 91 youths, 55 adults | P. vivax/ovale (72/275) P. falciparum (178/275) P. malariae (21/275) Unspecified (4/275) | Clinical | In 245/275 MB monotherapy Adults: 400–500 mg per day Youth: 300 mg per day Children: 200 mg per day Infants: 20–40 mg per day Regimens given in four doses per day (every 2 hours) initially for 6–12 days and for a total of 22–60 days (with variable pauses) In 30/275 MB in combination with quinine or arsenic | Up to 1 year | 257/275 cured 18/275 failure | Urogenital symptoms observed only with very high MB doses Colouring properties in particular in association with vomiting of children | Good efficacy in quinine non-responders Nutmeg was taken together with MB against urogenital symptoms |
Röttger Germany (1895) [67] | n = 7 | No specific information | Clinical | 600–800 mg per day for 8–33 days | 8–33 days | 6/7 cured 1/7 failure | 1/7 vomiting after MB1/7 urogenital symptoms | Nutmeg helped to reduce the urogenital side effects |
Ferreira Brazil (1893) [68] | n = 21 (2–180-month-old children, median 18 months) | No specific information | Clinical | 200–600 mg per day, usually in divided doses, for 3–30 days | 3–30 days (median 9 days) | 21/21 cured | 1/21 reported urogenital symptoms | 5/21 initial treatment with quinine failed |
Parenski and Blatteis Europe (1893) [69] | n = 35 | No specific information | By microscope | 800–1500 mg per day | 7 days to 4 months | 33/35 cases cured after 7 days 2/35 failure | Divided small doses (0.1–0.2 g) of MB rarely produced side effectsDivided higher doses (0.4–0.6 g) of MB produced more side effects, in particular vomiting and urogenital symptoms | Medicinale MB Merck free of chlorinated zinc, lead and arsenic was used |
Thayer USA (1892) [70] | n = 7 (age range: 17–58 years, median 33) | P. vivax/ovale (3/7) P. malariae (1/7) Unspecified (3/7) | Clinical | 400–1000 mg per day for 7–23 days | 7–23 days | 4/7 cured 3/7 failure | Urogenital symptoms (3/7) Dizziness (1/7) | Nutmeg was taken together with MB to reduce urogenital symptoms |
Guttmann and Ehrlich Germany (1891) [29] | n = 2 |
P. vivax/ovale
| By microscope | 500 mg per day for 12–24 days | 1–2 months | 2/2 cured | Urogenital symptoms (n = 1) | Nutmeg was taken together with MB to reduce urogenital symptoms |
Case reports | ||||||||
Mühlens and Kirschbaum Germany (1921) [71] | n = 1 |
P. vivax/ovale
| By microscope | 1000 mg per day for 7 days followed by alternating 5-day breaks and 3-day treatments with 1000 mg per day for 3 months | 3 months | Cured | No safety information | Nutmeg was taken together with MB to reduce urogenital symptoms |
Atkinson China (1903) [72] | n = 1 (male child) | Unspecified | By microscope | 300 mg per day | 11 days | Cured | Gastrointestinal disorder | Initial treatment with quinine failed |
Sivers Germany (1901) cited by Merck | n = 1 (15-year-old girl) |
P. vivax/ovale
| By microscope | 500 mg per day | 3 days | Cured | Vomiting | – |
Anonymous Germany (1893) [75] | n = 1 (32-year-old man) |
P. vivax/ovale
| By microscope | 1000 mg on day 1, 500 mg on day 2, then 300 mg for 14 days, then continued treatment for 6 weeks | 2 months | Parasite-free on day 7, relapse on day 14, and cured without relapse on day 60 | Urogenital symptoms | MB dose for treatment after relapse not specified Nutmeg helped to reduce urogenital side effects |
Trintignan India (1882) cited by Röttger (1895) [67] | n = 1 |
P. falciparum
| Clinical | 2000 mg per day during acute attack, followed by 500 mg per day until day 20 | 20 days | Cured | None | – |
Study designs and MB regimens
Quality of included studies
Study: First Author Place of study (Year) | Selection biasa (random sequence generation) | Performance biasa (blinding of the participants and personnel) | Detection biasa (blinding of outcome assessment) | Attribution biasa (incomplete outcome data) | Reporting biasa(selective reporting) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allocation concealment biasa | ||||||
Coulibaly et al. Burkina Faso (2015) [55] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Zoungrana et al. | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Meissner et al. Burkina Faso (2005) [58] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Methodological item | Score for studiesa | ||
---|---|---|---|
Bountogo et al. Burkina Faso (2010) [59] | Meissner et al. Burkina Faso (2006) [60] | Alving (1949) Cited by Baird et al. (2012) [61] | |
Clearly stated aim | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Inclusion of consecutive patients | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Prospective collection of data | 2 | 2 | 0 |
End points appropriate to the aim of the study | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Unbiased assessment of the study end point | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Follow-up period appropriate to the aim of the study | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Loss to follow-up less than 5% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Prospective calculation of the study size | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Adequate control group | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Contemporary groups | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Baseline equivalence of groups | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Adequate statistical analyses | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Total score | 20 | 23 | 6 |
Study: First Author Place of study (Year) | Score for studiesa | Total score | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
What is the overall degree of presentation of study details? | Detailed presentation of study participant characteristics? | Case definition clearly reported? | Clear description of malaria treatment reported? | Clear reporting on the follow-up period? | Appropriate reporting of efficacy outcomes? | Appropriate reporting of safety outcomes? | ||
Case series | ||||||||
Mayer Russia (1919) [62] | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
Panse Africa (1902) [63] | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Glogner Indonesia (1901) [64] | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
Ollwig Africa (1899) [65] | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
Cardamatis Greece (1898) [66] | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
Röttger Germany (1895) [67] | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
Ferreira Brazil (1893) [68] | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
Parenski and Blatteis Europe (1893) [69] | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
Thayer USA (1892) [70] | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
Guttmann and Ehrlich Germany (1891) [29] | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
Case reports | ||||||||
Mühlens Germany (1921) [71] | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
Atkinson China (1903) [72] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
Sivers Germany (1901) cited by Merck | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
Anonymous Germany (1893) [75] | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
Trintignan India (1882) cited by Röttger (1895) [67] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 |