title: [The efficacy of ecdystene versus metronidazole in the treatment of lambliasis].
abstract: Ecdisten, the drug designed on the basis of the phytoecdisteroid ecdisterone isolated from Rhaponticum carthamoides, was used in the treatment of first diagnosed (primary) and persistent (resistant to traditional lambliacides) lambliasis. A control group received metronidazole. Daily parasitological monitoring of lamblia elimination while treating with ecdisten in a daily dose of 20 mg for 10 days indicated the absence of lamblia in 70% of the patients with primary lambliasis on days 3 to 5; in the remaining 30%, parasitic elimination was accomplished on days 6-7 of treatment. In the patients with persistent lambliasis, the parasites were eliminated in 43.2% of cases on days 4-5 and in 56.6% on days 6-10. Metronidazole just on the second day of therapy caused parasitic elimination in 28.6% of the patients. All the patients were freed from lamblia within 5 days. Improvement occurred more rapidly with ecdisten treatment; immunological normalization was seen when ecdisten was used. Seven-ten-day course of ecdisten is sufficient for the treatment of primary lambliasis; when persistent lambliasis is treated, its course should be prolonged. If required, the course may be repeated, by increasing the daily dose.
authors.forename: Zh I
authors.initials: ZhI
authors.lastname: Islamova
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Syrov
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Khushbaktova
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Osipova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D043843:Leuzea; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013256:Steroids; D008795:Metronidazole; C088647:ecdystene