title: Two-year follow-up of hycanthone-treated schistosomiasis mansoni patients in St. Lucia.
abstract: Of 433 schistosomiasis mansoni patients in St. Lucia who were treated with hycanthone (3 mg/kg of body weight), 190 were seen 2 years after treatment and 143 of these had attended all follow-up examinations at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Viable eggs were not detected in 86% at 1 year nor in 76% at 2 years. The reinfection rate, as judged by a significant increase in egg excretion, was 15% and was related to the geographic area to which the patient returned. Extremely high total reduction in egg excretion (98%) was achieved through 1 year, and even with reinfections this fell only to 87% at 2 years. Liver and spleen enlargement was related to intensity of infection and responded to treatment in 92% and 83% of instances, respectively. Among patients with hepatosplenomegaly, those 15 years or older showed less clinical response than younger patients but were too few for statistical comparison.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005029:Ethylenediamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D000432:Methanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced; D013892:Thioxanthenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014900:West Indies
chemical_list: D005029:Ethylenediamines; D012556:Schistosomicides; D013892:Thioxanthenes; D000432:Methanol