Long-term efficacy of single-dose combinations of albendazole, ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine for the treatment of bancroftian filariasis.

Abstract

In a 'blinded' trial (in Sri Lanka, 1996-98) of 47 male asymptomatic microfilaraemic subjects with Wuchereria bancrofti infection, the safety, tolerability and filaricidal efficacy of 3 single-dose combination regimens were compared: albendazole 400 mg with ivermectin 200 micrograms/kg, albendazole 400 mg with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) 6 mg/kg or albendazole 600 mg with ivermectin 400 micrograms/kg. Treated subjects were followed-up for 24 months. This represents the first long-term study using combinations of albendazole with DEC or ivermectin in the above doses against bancroftian filariasis. All subjects had pre-treatment microfilaria (mf) counts over 100/mL. All 3 treatments significantly reduced mf counts, with the albendazole-DEC-treated group showing the lowest mf levels at 18 and 24 months post-treatment. Filarial antigen tests suggested that all 3 treatments had significant activity against adult W. bancrofti; albendazole-DEC combination had the greatest activity according to this test, with antigen levels decreasing to 30.5% of pre-treatment antigen levels, 24 months after therapy. All 3 treatments were clinically safe and well tolerated. These results suggest that a single dose of albendazole 400 mg together with DEC 6 mg/kg is a safe and effective combination for suppression of microfilaraemia of bancroftian filariasis that could be considered for use in filariasis control programmes based on mass treatment of endemic populations.

• Authors: M M Ismail, R L Jayakody, G J Weil, D Fernando, M S De Silva, G A De Silva, W K Balasooriya
• Journal: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg) 2001 May-Jun Vol. 95 Issue 3 Pg. 332-5 ISSN: 0035-9203 [Print] England
• PMID: 11491010 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antimalarials
• Drug Combinations
• Ivermectin
• Albendazole
• Diethylcarbamazine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Albendazole (administration & dosage)
• Analysis of Variance
• Antimalarials (administration & dosage)
• Diethylcarbamazine (administration & dosage)
• Drug Combinations
• Elephantiasis, Filarial (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Ivermectin (administration & dosage)
• Long-Term Care
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Treatment Outcome