Nitazoxanide in the treatment of amoebiasis.
Amoebiasis is a significant cause of morbidity worldwide and is the third leading cause of death from parasitic diseases. This study evaluated nitazoxanide, a thiazolide anti-infective, in the treatment of intestinal and hepatic amoebiasis. Prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were conducted in outpatients with intestinal amoebiasis from the Nile Delta of Egypt. Nitazoxanide was administered twice daily for 3 days at doses of 500mg (age > or =12 years), 200mg (age 4-11 years) or 100mg (age 1-3 years). Seventeen adults hospitalised with hepatic amoebiasis were treated with 500mg nitazoxanide twice daily for 10 days. Four days after completion of therapy, 32 (94%) of 34 nitazoxanide-treated patients with intestinal amoebiasis resolved symptoms compared with 15 (50%) of 30 patients who received placebo (P<0.001). Thirty-two (94%) of 34 nitazoxanide-treated patients were free of Entamoeba histolytica in two post-treatment stool specimens compared with only 13 (43%) of 30 patients receiving placebo (P<0.0001). All patients with hepatic amoebiasis responded to nitazoxanide therapy. Nitazoxanide is effective in treating invasive intestinal amoebiasis and in eliminating E. histolytica colonisation of the intestinal tract. Further studies are warranted in patients with hepatic amoebiasis.
The Romark Institute for Medical Research, 3000 Bayport Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, USA. jrossignol@romark.com
Jean-François
JF
Rossignol
Samir M
SM
Kabil
Yehia
Y
El-Gohary
Azza M
AM
Younis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000563:Amebicides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000563:Amebicides; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles; C041747:nitazoxanide