[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: Zh I Islamova, V N Syrov, Z A Khushbaktova, S O Osipova
• Journal: Meditsinskaia parazitologiia i parazitarnye bolezni (Med Parazitol (Mosk)) 2010 Apr-Jun Issue 2 Pg. 14-7 ISSN: 0025-8326 [Print] Russia (Federation)
• PMID: 20614521 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiprotozoal Agents
• Plant Extracts
• Steroids
• Metronidazole
• ecdystene

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Antiprotozoal Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Chronic Disease
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Giardia (isolation & purification)
• Giardiasis (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Leuzea
• Metronidazole (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Steroids (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult