IngentaConnect Effects of a 3-day regimen of albendazole (800 mg daily) on Loa l...

Authors: Tsague-Dongmo L.¹; Kamgno J.²; Pion S.D.S.³; Moyou-Somo R.⁴; Boussinesq M.³

Source: Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Volume 96, Number 7, October 2002 , pp. 707-715(9)

Abstract:

The encephalopathy that sometimes develops after ivermectin treatment in patients with high Loa microfilaraemias is probably related to a massive effect of the drug on the Loa microfilariae. A trial was therefore conducted to evaluate whether a course of albendazole would bring about a slower decrease in the Loa microfilaraemia, and thus could be used as a mass 'clearing' treatment, before the distribution of ivermectin in areas where onchocerciasis and loiasis are co-endemic. The Loa microfilarial loads were followed monthly for 9 months in two groups of subjects, one treated with albendazole (400 mg twice a day for 3 days), and the other with vitamin (B₁, B₆ and B₁₂) tablets. There were no significant between-group differences in the microfilarial loads at any of the examination rounds. During the follow-up period, there was also no significant change in the overall loads among those treated with albendazole, although the counts in those with high initial microfilaraemias (>8000 microfilariae/ml) tended to decrease progressively during the first 3 months. Further trials should now be performed, to evaluate the effects on Loa loa of two courses of albendazole given 2-3 months apart.

Document Type: Original article

DOI: 10.1179/000349802125001933

Affiliations: 1: Laboratoire mixte IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement)-CPC (Centre Pasteur du Cameroun) d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, B.P. 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroon 2: Laboratoire mixte IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement)-CPC (Centre Pasteur du Cameroun) d'Epidémiologie et de SantéPublique, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, B.P. 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroon 3: Laboratoire mixte IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement)-CPC (Centre Pasteur du Cameroun) d'Epidémiologie et de SantéPublique, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, B.P. 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroon 4: Centre de Recherches Médicales, Institut de Recherches Médicales et d'Etudes des Plantes Médicinales (IMPM), Yaoundé, Cameroon

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Effects of a 3-day regimen of albendazole (800 mg daily) on Loa loa microfilaraemia