The efficacy of annual single-dose treatment with diethylcarbamazine citrate against diurnally subperiodic bancroftian filariasis in Samoa.

Abstract

Treatment of subperiodic bancroftian filariasis, which is endemic in Samoa, with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC-C) in single doses of 4 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg body weight was evaluated using the nuclepore filtration method (with 1 ml blood) and compared in terms of efficacy against the microfilariae (mf) and side-reactions produced. The 6 mg/kg single-dose treatment assessed at six months showed that the effect of DEC-C to eliminate microfilariae was closely associated with the pre-treatment microfilarial level. The treatment cured nearly 60% of the low-density carriers with </=20 mf/ml but only about 10% of the carriers with >/=501 mf/ml. However, the percentage decrease in the microfilarial count, which averaged 89.3%, did not seem to differ greatly according to the level of the pre-treatment count. The age group 20-29 years showed a poorer response to the treatment compared with the other age groups. When the different dosage regimens (4 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg) were compared at 6 and 12 months after treatment, the 6 mg/kg regimen was found to be more effective than the 4 mg/kg regimen in reducing the microfilarial count, and it produced fewer adverse reactions than the 8 mg/kg regimen. The comparison between the annual single-dose treatment at 6 mg/kg and the six-monthly two doses/year treatment at the same dosage (total 12 mg/kg/year) showed that the latter had little advantage over the former, thus indicating the effectiveness of the single-dose treatment for longer than six months.

• Authors: E Kimura, L Penaia, G F Spears
• Journal: Bulletin of the World Health Organization (Bull World Health Organ) Vol. 63 Issue 6 Pg. 1097-106 ( 1985) ISSN: 0042-9686 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 3914925 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Carbamazepine
• Diethylcarbamazine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Carbamazepine (adverse effects)
• Carrier State (drug therapy)
• Circadian Rhythm
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Diethylcarbamazine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Filariasis (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Independent State of Samoa
• Male
• Wuchereria bancrofti