Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta

Abstract

Potential Role of Chloroquine in Macrophageal Iron Mobilization

Nweneka CV

Malaria anaemia is still a major killer of children in malaria endemic countries. We have shown from the published literature that malaria anaemia, especially mild to moderate anaemia is largely due to inflammation-induced hypoferreamia and immune-mediated destruction of parasitized and non-parasitized red blood cells. In this review, we speculate that the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of chloroquine, a cheap, readily available antimalarial, may make it a very good candidate for investigation as a possible adjunct treatment for malariaassociated anaemia.