Safety and efficacy of co-administered diethylcarbamazine, albendazole and ivermectin during mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis in Haiti: Results from a two-armed, open-label, cluster-randomized, community study

by Christine L. Dubray, Anita D. Sircar, Valery Madsen Beau de Rochars, Joshua Bogus, Abdel N. Direny, Jean Romuald Ernest, Carl R. Fayette, Charles W. Goss, Marisa Hast, Kobie O ’Brian, Guy Emmanuel Pavilus, Daniel Frantz Sabin, Ryan E. Wiegand, Gary J. Weil, Jean Frantz Lemoine In Haiti, 22 communes still require mass drug administration (MDA) to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem. Several clinical trials have shown that a single oral dose of ivermectin (IVM), diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and albendazole (ALB) (IDA) is more effective than DEC plus ALB (DA) for clearing Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae (Mf). We performed a cluster-randomized community study to compare the safety and efficacy of IDA and DA in an LF-endemic area in northern Haiti. Ten localities were randomized to receive either DA or IDA. Participants were monitored for adverse events (AE), parasite antigenemia, and microfilaremia. Antigen-positive participants were retested one year after MDA to assess treatment efficacy. Fewer participants (11.0%, 321/2917) experienced at least one AE after IDA compared to DA (17.3%, 491/2844,P
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research