[A trial treatment with eflornithine of trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in the Peoples Republic of the Congo].

Abstract

In a multiclinic trial in Brazzaville, Congo, 14 patients with late-stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense trypanosomiasis were treated with eflornithine. All cases had previously been treated with one or several courses of melarsoprol. Eflornithine treatment consisted of 400 mg/kg/day intravenously for 14 days followed by 300 mg/kg/day orally for 21 days. After treatment all patients had a disappearance of trypanosomes from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a normalization of CSF WBC count, and, where present prior to study, a clear, rapid and lasting amelioration of neurological signs. Neither clinical nor biological adverse effects necessitated modifying or discontinuing treatment. These encouraging results in melarsoprol-refractory cases demonstrate, despite certain logistical problems, the interest of eflornithine in the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis.

• Authors: P Eozenou, J Jannin, S Ngampo, B Carme, G P Tell, P J Schechter
• Journal: Medecine tropicale : revue du Corps de sante colonial (Med Trop (Mars)) 1989 Apr-Jun Vol. 49 Issue 2 Pg. 149-54 ISSN: 0025-682X [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Essai de traitement de la trypanosomiase à Trypanosoma brucei-gambiense par l'eflornithine en République Populaire du congo.
• PMID: 2507863 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, English Abstract, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• Arsenicals
• Melarsoprol
• Eflornithine

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Animals
• Arsenicals (therapeutic use)
• Congo
• Drug Resistance
• Drug Tolerance
• Eflornithine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intravenous
• Male
• Melarsoprol (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Multicenter Studies as Topic
• Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
• Trypanosomiasis, African (cerebrospinal fluid, drug therapy)