Effectiveness of diethylcarbamazine in treating loiasis acquired by expatriate visitors to endemic regions: long-term follow-up.

Abstract

Although successful treatment of loiasis with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) has been reported, little is known about the long-term success rate of therapy or the predisposing factors for treatment failure. To address these questions, 32 patients were followed 2-15 years (median, 4.5) after DEC treatment; all had acquired infection while expatriate visitors to endemic areas of Africa. Using a strict definition of successful treatment, 12 (38%) appeared to be cured after one course of therapy and 5(16%) after two courses. Of the remaining 15 patients, 3 continued to be symptomatic despite more than four courses of treatment. Although 12 of the 17 patients who relapsed did so within 1 year of treatment, several had relatively long asymptomatic periods (2-8 years). There was no predictive difference in clinical or laboratory parameters (including eosinophilia and specific filarial serology) between patients requiring one or more courses of therapy.

• Authors: A D Klion, E A Ottesen, T B Nutman
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 169 Issue 3 Pg. 604-10 (Mar 1994) ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8158033 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Diethylcarbamazine

Topics

• Diethylcarbamazine (therapeutic use)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Loiasis (drug therapy, epidemiology, immunology, transmission)
• Recurrence
• Travel