title: Comparative efficacy of clearing-dose and single high-dose ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine against Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaremia.
abstract: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of various combinations of low- and high-dose ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine (DEC), 59 persons with Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaremia were enrolled in a double-blinded six-arm clinical trial in Leogane, Haiti. On day 1, study participants were treated with low clearing doses of ivermectin, DEC, or placebo; on day 5 they received 200-400 micrograms/kg of ivermectin or 6 mg/kg of DEC. Adverse reactions, which were generally mild, occurred more frequently with ivermectin than with DEC. One year after treatment, the geometric mean microfilarial density returned to 0.9% of pretreatment levels for persons who received a total of 420 micrograms/kg of ivermectin. This rate was significantly lower than 5.6% for persons who were treated with 220 micrograms/kg of ivermectin (P = 0.02) and 9.3% for those receiving 6 or 7 mg/kg of DEC (P = 0.006). Persons treated with a clearing dose of ivermectin followed by 6 mg/kg of DEC also had low microfilarial densities (1.7% of pretreatment levels), suggesting an additive or synergistic effect of the two drugs. The addition of a clearing dose neither reduced the severity of adverse reactions nor improved the efficacy of high-dose ivermectin. Community-based intervention trials are now warranted to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of mass chemotherapy with single high-dose ivermectin for the prevention and control of lymphatic filariasis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Addiss
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Eberhard
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lammie
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: McNeeley
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: McNeeley
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007559:Ivermectin; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine