title: The treatment of microfilaremia due to Wuchereria bancrofti var. pacifica: ivermectin versus diethylcarbamazine.
abstract: In October 1989, a controlled, double-blind parallel group trial was implemented to compare both efficacy and tolerability of single doses of ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine (DEC). Fifty eight apparently healthy Wuchereria bancrofti carriers were hospitalized and randomly allocated to treatment with ivermectin 100 mcg/kg, DEC 3 or 6 mg/kg. Six months later, half of those initially treated with ivermectin 100 mcg/kg and DEC 3 mg/kg were given a second similar dose while the rest were given a placebo. After initial treatment, clearance of microfilaremia was complete in 22 of the 23 carriers treated with ivermectin and in one only of the 35 treated with DEC. Adjusted geometric mean microfilaremia was significantly lower (p less than 0.01) in carriers treated with ivermectin than in those treated with DEC at one, but neither at 3 (p = 0.26) nor at 6 months (p = 0.63). The comparison of adjusted geometric mean microfilaremia per group indicated that (i) regarding either ivermectin 100 mcg/kg or DEC 3 mg/kg, 2 successive doses resulted in higher efficacy than one annual dose and (ii) efficacy of 2 successive doses of ivermectin 100 mcg/kg or DEC 3 mg/kg were not significantly different. During the 3 days following initial treatment, adverse reactions were observed in 80% of the treated carriers of whom 14% suffered a grade 3 reaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institut Territorial de Recherches Médicales Louis Malardé, Papeete, Tahiti, Polynésie Française.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cartel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spiegel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plichart
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011114:Polynesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti
chemical_list: D007559:Ivermectin; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine
vernacular_title: Traitement de la microfilarémie à Wuchereria bancrofti var. pacifica: ivermectine versus diethylcarbamazine.