Therapeutic failure in patients with malaria can occur due to various factors and polymorphisms in enzymes of the Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) family, responsible for around 90% of the metabolization of chloroquine and primaquine, can generate individuals who are low, intermediate or fast metabolizers of antimalarial drugs.

We evaluated the relationship between these polymorphisms and the biometalization of antimalarial drugs worldwide through a systematic review using the PRISMA statement.

The research question was structured in the PICO format (Population = people infected with Plasmodium vivax; Intervention = people without vivax malaria; Comparison = polymorphisms in the CPY450 gene; Outcome = biometabolization of antimalarial drugs is influenced by polymorphisms in the CYP450 gene). The investigation in the databases (Medline through Pubmed, Google scholar, Science direct and Scopus) was carried out by grouping descriptors (DECs/Mesh) with Boolean operators (AND/OR). Duplicate articles were excluded, as well as those with in vitro research, which did not meet the objective of the study and which, when applying the Joanna Briggs Institute questionnaire, had ≤ 50% "yes" answers.

Of the 187,935 articles retrieved, only 12 were selected for this review, adding up to 2050 individuals. The majority (75%) of the articles reported an interaction between polymorphisms in the CYP2A6, CYP2D6, CYP2B6, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genes in individuals infected with Plasmodium falciparum and interference in drug metabolization. As for Plasmodium vivax (25%), the SNP in the CYP2D6 gene was the most frequently reported cause of therapeutic failure. As for the phenotype regarding biometabolization, 65% were normal, 25% low, 5% fast and 5% null metabolizers. Conclusions: It is important to develop measures aimed at profiling genetic biomarkers and their respective phenotypes in populations from endemic areas, in order to prevent relapses from P. vivax and treatment failure for both plasmodia; important for establishing malaria prevention and control measures.

Molecular Epidemiology, Pharmacogenetics, Plasmodium, Public Health.

There was no conflicts of interest.

None.