An Observational Study Comparing the Effects of Chloroquine and Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy on Hematological Recovery in Patients With Plasmodium vivax Malaria

Introduction Malaria, a common parasitic disease in tropical regions, produces hematological changes in patients. In the present study, we compare hematologic recovery between the chloroquine and artemether-lumefantrine treatment groups of patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria. Methodology This was a cross-sectional observational study comparing hematological parameters, including total and differential white blood cell counts, and platelet counts between two patient groups: one group with 48 patients receiving chloroquine, and the other with 47 patients receiving the artemether-lumefantrine combination. Both groups received primaquine to combat the hypnozoite stage. Results The rate of platelet count recovery was significantly faster in patients treated with the artemether-lumefantrine combination (p-value 0.002). Rates of recovery of the total white blood cell count and neutrophil count were faster with the artemether-lumefantrine combination, while the recovery of the lymphocyte count was faster in patients treated with chloroquine. However, these changes were statistically insignificant (p-values = 0.69, 0.42, and 0.65, respectively). Conclusion Based on hematological recovery, artemisinin combination therapy may be preferred over treatment with chloroquine in cases of P. vivax malaria. However, factors such as the adverse effect profile, cost-effectiveness, and chloroquine resistance need to be considered for the practical applicability of the same.