A Comparison of 6-, 12-, and 24-Monthly Dosing with Ivermectin for Treatment of Onchocerciasis

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 163; no. 2; pp. 376 - 380
• Main Authors: Greene, Bruce M., Dukuly, Zwannah D., Muñoz, Beatriz, White, Albert T., Pacque, Michel, Taylor, Hugh R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University Chicago Press 01-02-1991; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Anterior chamber; Anterior Chamber - parasitology; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Cornea; Cornea - parasitology; Dosage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eye diseases; Humans; Infections; Intestinal volvulus; Ivermectin - administration & dosage; Ivermectin - therapeutic use; Major Articles; Medical sciences; Microfilariae; Microfilariae - drug effects; Microfilariae - growth & development; Onchocerciasis; Onchocerciasis - drug therapy; Onchocerciasis, Ocular - drug therapy; Patient assessment; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Placebos; Skin - parasitology; Tropical medicine; Liberia; Africa; Human; Onchocerca volvulus; Administration schedule; Helminthiasis; Onchocerciasis; Posology; Infection; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Nematod disease; Parasiticid; Helmintha; Nemathelminthia; Filariosis; Invertebrata; Nematoda
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/163.2.376

This study was designed to examine the optimal dose and interval of administration of ivermectin, the now-accepted drug of choice for onchocerciasis. Two hundred Liberians with Onchocerca volvulus infection received 100, 150,or 200 ltg/kg ivermectin or placebo and were followed for 36 months. The reaction after the second dose of ivermectin was significantly less than after the initial dose, although it was still significant in the 200-µg/kg group. The skin microfilaria counts in the group treated 6-monthly with 150 ltg/kg was significantly less than in the group treated yearly (12 and 24 months after initial therapy). Prevalence of microfilariae in the anterior chamber and punctate corneal opacities decreased progressively in all groups over 3 years. There appears to be a slight advantage, in terms of antiparasitic effect over the first 2 years, of therapy given 6-monthly compared with yearly.