[Systematic review of benefits and harms of artemisinin-type compounds for preventing schistosomiasis].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the benefits and harms of artemisinin-type compounds for preventing schistosomiasis.


METHODS
The quality of included randomised controlled trials with the people at risk of contacting schistosomiasis were evaluated and Meta-analysis was conducted.


RESULTS
We found ten randomised controlled trials relating to our question. Of them, four trials were multi-centre studies, others were single centre studies. Numbers of participants in the trials ranged from 318 to 5,098, total 12,829. The total OR of 0.11 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.21) indicated that those who were administrated artemisinin-type compounds were significantly less infected with Schistosoma japonica than those who were administrated placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Artemisinin-type compounds are effective drug for preventing Schistosomiasis japonica infection. Fifteen days interval schemes of artesunate and artemether be considered preferable to seven days interval scheme and were associated with very few side effects. More high quality controlled trials are required for assessing which scheme is the better. These studies should be large.
Wu
Tai-xiang
TX
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Huaxi Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610041, China.
Liu
Guan-jian
GJ
Zhang
Ming-min
MM
Wang
Qin
Q
Ni
Juan
J
Wei
Jia-fu
JF
Zhou
Li-kun
LK
Duan
Xin
X
Chen
Xiao-yan
XY
Zheng
Jie
J
Qiao
Jie-qi
JQ
D000328:Adult; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077332:Artesunate; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D037621:Artemisinins; D012556:Schistosomicides; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000077332:Artesunate; C031327:artemisinin; D000077549:Artemether