title: [A trial treatment with eflornithine of trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in the Peoples Republic of the Congo].
abstract: In a multiclinic trial in Brazzaville, Congo, 14 patients with late-stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense trypanosomiasis were treated with eflornithine. All cases had previously been treated with one or several courses of melarsoprol. Eflornithine treatment consisted of 400 mg/kg/day intravenously for 14 days followed by 300 mg/kg/day orally for 21 days. After treatment all patients had a disappearance of trypanosomes from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a normalization of CSF WBC count, and, where present prior to study, a clear, rapid and lasting amelioration of neurological signs. Neither clinical nor biological adverse effects necessitated modifying or discontinuing treatment. These encouraging results in melarsoprol-refractory cases demonstrate, despite certain logistical problems, the interest of eflornithine in the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis.
authors.affiliation: Service de l'Epidémiologie et des Grandes Endémies, Brazzaville, République Populaire de Congo.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eozenou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jannin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ngampo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carme
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tell
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schechter
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003223:Congo; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008549:Melarsoprol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D008549:Melarsoprol; D000518:Eflornithine
vernacular_title: Essai de traitement de la trypanosomiase à Trypanosoma brucei-gambiense par l'eflornithine en République Populaire du congo.