ABSTRACT

Chioroquine is a synthetic derivative of 4-arninoquinolines recommended for both preventive and curative measures for malaria, which is caused by infection of the protozoa genus plasmodium. Blood sera were obtained from malaria infected pregnant women treated with chloroquine phosphate and from those not treated with the drug that served as control. ALP, AST and ALP were assessed in addition to electrolytes (HCO₃and Cl) as well as serum Urea and Haemoglohin The figures for liver enzymes, which range from untreated ALT (20.10+ 2.52) to treated patiens (21.90±3.75) untreated AST (24.46±7.28) to treated (29.50±6.53) untreated ALP (77.11±8.62) to treated (89.64 ±12.56) untreated HCO3-29.20+1.57) to treated (23.70±6.61) untreated CL (96.91+1.11) to treated (98.81± 2.41) untreated Serum Urea (70.54±5.74) to treated (6.63+0.54) and untreated Hb (9.73- 2.18) to treated (10.55±3.18) Results show that the test liver enzymes increased from the normal in both's test and control blood samples but higher in the chloroquine phosphate treated samples. The increased enzyme activity was attributed to possible effect of the chloroquine phosphate, which is reported to posses hepatotoxic properties. Increased haemoglobin in treated blood samples was attributed to possibility of effective ehioroquine action against parasitemia in the blood, thus restoring Haemoglobin level. There is a reported decrease in serum bicarbonate level in feverish conditions associated with the hot stage of malaria paroxysms. It was concluded that the use of chloroquine phosphate have some adverse effect on the liver of pregnant women when the increased enzyme activity. It was therefore recommended that the use of chioroquine phosphate during pregnancy should ho done under strict physician supervision.