title: The effect of antihelminthic treatment on subjects with asthma from an endemic area of schistosomiasis: a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: This is a prospective, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial evaluating the influence of antihelminthic treatments on asthma severity in individuals living in an endemic area of schistosomiasis. Patients from group 1 received placebo of Albendazole or of Praziquantel and from group 2 received Albendazole and Praziquantel. Asthma severity was assessed by clinical scores and by pulmonary function test. There was no significant difference in the asthma scores from D0 to D1-D7 after Albendazole or Praziquantel and from D0 to D30-90 after Albendazole or Praziquantel in both, group 1 and 2. It was observed, however, a clinical worsening of the overall studied population after 6 months and 12 months of antihelminthic treatments. Additionally, we observed increased frequency of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) <80% on 12 and 18 months after treatment. The worsening of asthma severity after repeated antihelminthic treatments is consistent with the hypothesis of the protective role conferred by helminths in atopic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), 40110-160 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia F
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Givaneide S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Luciana S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Robson P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Régis A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Alvaro A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Joanemile P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Ricardo R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Edgar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Maria Ilma
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Araujo