Chemotherapy with diethylcarbamazine and levamisole in Bancroftian filariasis. 1981

J E McMahon

Field trials in which spaced doses of DEC were given once weekly, monthly or bi-monthly (or combinations of these intervals) cleared microfilariae (mf) of Wuchereria bancrofti from the blood in 78% if persons examined at six months. This reduction of microfilaraemia was maintained at a four years follow up examination. All regimens were well tolerated. In areas where mf rates were less than 12% a total dose of 36-48 mg/kg of DEC was effective. Higher doses (72 mg/kg) are required where mf rates are greater than 20%. The results of administering an oral dose of levamisole (3 mg/kg) prior to daily doses of DEC (6 mg/kg/day/7) were no better at the 2 month examination compared to the results following a similar regimen of DEC without prior administration of levamisole. Retreatment with DEC (6 mg/kg/day/7) of persons having microfilaraemia four years after initial treatment with this drug resulted in mf clearance in 94% of subjects.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007978 Levamisole An antihelminthic drug that has been tried experimentally in rheumatic disorders where it apparently restores the immune response by increasing macrophage chemotaxis and T-lymphocyte function. Paradoxically, this immune enhancement appears to be beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis where dermatitis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, and nausea and vomiting have been reported as side effects. (From Smith and Reynard, Textbook of Pharmacology, 1991, p435-6) L-Tetramisole,Levotetramisole,Decaris,Dekaris,Levamisole Hydrochloride,Solaskil,Hydrochloride, Levamisole
D004049 Diethylcarbamazine An anthelmintic used primarily as the citrate in the treatment of filariasis, particularly infestations with Wucheria bancrofti or Loa loa. Carbamazine,Diethylcarbamazine Citrate,Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (1:1),Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (1:2),Diethylcarbamazine L-Tartrate (1:1),Diethylcarbamazine Maleate,Diethylcarbamazine Monohydrochloride,Diethylcarbamazine Phosphate (1:1),Hetrazan,Loxuran,Notezine,Citrate, Diethylcarbamazine,Maleate, Diethylcarbamazine,Monohydrochloride, Diethylcarbamazine
D005368 Filariasis Infections with nematodes of the superfamily FILARIOIDEA. The presence of living worms in the body is mainly asymptomatic but the death of adult worms leads to granulomatous inflammation and permanent fibrosis. Organisms of the genus Elaeophora infect wild elk and domestic sheep causing ischemic necrosis of the brain, blindness, and dermatosis of the face. Elaeophoriasis,Filarioidea Infections,Infections, Filarioidea,Elaeophoriases,Filariases,Filarioidea Infection,Infection, Filarioidea
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014958 Wuchereria bancrofti A white threadlike worm which causes elephantiasis, lymphangitis, and chyluria by interfering with the lymphatic circulation. The microfilaria are found in the circulating blood and are carried by mosquitoes. Filaria bancrofti,Filaria sanguinis hominis

Related Publications

J E McMahon
January 1980, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene,
J E McMahon
January 1969, Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
J E McMahon
January 1967, Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
J E McMahon
January 1986, Journal of the Indian Medical Association,
J E McMahon
June 1988, Tropical medicine and parasitology : official organ of Deutsche Tropenmedizinische Gesellschaft and of Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ),
J E McMahon
August 1992, Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology,
J E McMahon
May 1988, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
Copied contents to your clipboard!