A Cochrane review included 2 studies with a total of 194 subjects. Both studies compared arteether with quinine in children with cerebral malaria. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of deaths (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.30; 2 studies, n=194), neurological complications (RR 1.18, 95% CI 0.31 to 4.46; 1 study, n=58), or other outcomes including time to regain consciousness, parasite clearance time, and fever clearance time. The meta-analyses lack statistical power to detect important differences.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (lack of blinding) and by imprecise results (few patients and wide confidence intervals).