TY - JOUR
T1 - Ivermectin treatment of onchocercal skin lesions
T2 - Observations from a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in Malawi
AU - Burnham, G.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - To determine effects of ivermectin on skin lesions of onchocerciasis, a placebo controlled, double-blind trial was carried out in the Thyolo highlands of Malawi involving 70 persons over a 32-month period. Assessment was made using both a clinical numeric grading system and sequential photographs. Among both ivermectin and placebo recipients, there was a significant reduction in both the severity and extent of papular skin lesions. Persons with edematous or lichenified skin lesions of onchocerciasis who received ivermectin showed significantly more improvement than those receiving placebo. Twelve months after the placebo group received ivermectin, their skin lesions were similar to those of the ivermectin group. Changes were most evident for those persons with more severe skin disease in both the ivermectin and placebo groups. Annual ivermectin treatment for onchocercal skin lesions is probably inadequate, and treatment three or four times a year may be required, although the optimum regimen has not been established.
AB - To determine effects of ivermectin on skin lesions of onchocerciasis, a placebo controlled, double-blind trial was carried out in the Thyolo highlands of Malawi involving 70 persons over a 32-month period. Assessment was made using both a clinical numeric grading system and sequential photographs. Among both ivermectin and placebo recipients, there was a significant reduction in both the severity and extent of papular skin lesions. Persons with edematous or lichenified skin lesions of onchocerciasis who received ivermectin showed significantly more improvement than those receiving placebo. Twelve months after the placebo group received ivermectin, their skin lesions were similar to those of the ivermectin group. Changes were most evident for those persons with more severe skin disease in both the ivermectin and placebo groups. Annual ivermectin treatment for onchocercal skin lesions is probably inadequate, and treatment three or four times a year may be required, although the optimum regimen has not been established.
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U2 - 10.4269/ajtmh.52-270
DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.52-270
M3 - Article
C2 - 7694970
AN - SCOPUS:0028904958
SN - 0002-9637
VL - 52
SP - 270
EP - 276
JO - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
IS - 3
ER -