Abstract | BACKGROUND & AIMS: METHODS: Eighteen subjects with chronic diarrhea caused by Enterocytozoon bieneusi that had not responded symptomatically to albendazole and 1 untreated subject with Encephalitozoon intestinalis received 1 month of thalidomide, 100 mg nocte. Clinical response was assessed by stool frequency and body weight, histological response by light microscopy with villus height/crypt depth ratios and electron microscopy, and immunologic response by fecal TNF-alpha level. RESULTS: Seven subjects with chronic diarrhea due to E. bieneusi had a complete clinical response, and 3 had a partial response to thalidomide. There was a significant decrease in stool frequency from 5.3 to 3.1 per day (P = 0.001), and weight increased significantly by 1.2 kg (P < 0.02). Thalidomide significantly increased the villus height/crypt depth ratio (1.95 to 2.07; P = 0.045) and number of abnormal forms of microsporidia (P < 0.01). Fecal TNF-alpha level nonsignificantly decreased from 17.9 to 8.9 U/mL. There was apparent disruption of all stages of the life cycle of E. intestinalis. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | D Sharpstone, A Rowbottom, N Francis, G Tovey, D Ellis, M Barrett, B Gazzard |
Journal | Gastroenterology
(Gastroenterology)
Vol. 112
Issue 6
Pg. 1823-9
(Jun 1997)
ISSN: 0016-5085 [Print] United States |
PMID | 9178672
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
(drug therapy)
- Adult
- Animals
- Diarrhea
(drug therapy)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Microsporidiosis
(drug therapy)
- Middle Aged
- Thalidomide
(therapeutic use)
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