The Chemoprophylactic Use of Diformyl Diaminodiphenyl Sulfone (DFD) in Falciparum Malaria

Abstract

The need for adequate protection against chloroquine-resistant malaria led to the evaluation of diformyl diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DFD) as a chemoprophylactic agent. In this study the prophylactic value of weekly DFD (400 mg) and chloroquine (300 mg) against a chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum is compared with that of two other commonly used regimens which require daily administration of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS; dapsone). Protection against mosquito-induced infections was achieved in 5 of 8 volunteers who received weekly DFD and chloroquine, 6 of 8 who received daily DDS (25 mg) and weekly chloroquine (300 mg), and 7 of 8 who received daily DDS (25 mg) and weekly chloroquine (300 mg) and primaquine (45 mg).