The use of mebendazole in the treatment of filariases due to Loa loa and Mansonella perstans.
Patients harbouring Loa loa and/or Mansonella perstans infections, or presenting typical filarial symptomatology, were treated with mebendazole, a drug shown to be efficient in other parasitoses. Of the patients who took the drug during 21 days and provided regular blood samples, 84% showed a significant decrease in their L. loa microfilaraemia and 100% in their M. perstans microfilaraemia, with a concomitant improvement in the clinical manifestations and no side reaction to drug administration. Additionally, the long-lasting effect of the drug (up to day 200 in some cases) may suggest a positive action on the adult worm. Mebendazole may consequently be regarded as a safer alternative to diethylcarbamazine for the treatment of these two parasitoses.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D005368:Filariasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008118:Loiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008368:Mansonelliasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged
D008463:Mebendazole