The efficacy of parenteral single-dose therapy of bilharziasis with hycanthone methanesulfonate
Abdallah, A.; Saif, M.; Koura, M.; Abdel-Fattah, F.; Abdel-Meguid, M.; Hafez, S.; Mohsen, Z.
Journal of the Egyptian Medical Association 54(2): 155-170
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0013-2411 PMID: 5156456 Document Number: 43100
Hycanthone methanesulphonate was given as a single intramuscular dose of either 3.0 or 3.5 mg/kg body-weight to 1,072 patients infected with Schistosoma haematobium and 209 with S. mansoni, the patients being divided into 4 age groups. With S. haematobium cases, the lower dose gave a 47.3% cure, and the higher dose 56.7%; there was a significant correlation of cure rates with age, the highest rates (71% at both doses) being in the age group 30 and over. A significant improvement in cure rate (from 34.8 to 53%) was seen only in children aged 5 to 12 years, and that with the exception of this group the higher dose is unnecessary. With S. mansoni cases, the higher dose gave a significantly higher over-all cure rate (54%) compared to the lower dose (40%) but no significant age group differences were found. In a further experiment, cure rate was found to be inversely related to the intensity of infection, and this may explain the age correlations found. Side effects were more pronounced with the higher dose.