Comparative efficacy of diethylcarbamazine and mebendazole for the treatment of human toxocariasis

Abstract

SUMMARYAn open randomized study was carried out to assess the efficacy of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and mebendazole (MBZ) across, respectively, 39 and 41 patients, all exhibiting clinical and biological features evocative of toxocariasis, together with a positive immunodiagnosis by Western blot usingToxocaralarvae excretory-secretory antigens. Clinical impact of the disease was quantified by a score system (20 parameters). Post-treatment follow-up used also results from eosinophil counts from total and specific anti-ToxocaraIgE quantitations, and from Western blots. All patients attended the control check-up 1 month after the end of treatment. Analysis of the results showed a similar good efficacy of DEC and MBZ on clinical score and eosinophil count that were significantly lowered. MBZ therapy was slightly more efficient on specific anti-ToxocaraIgE kinetics, while total IgE mean titres were not affected by either DEC or MBZ treatment. Patients from the DEC group reported a significantly higher rate of adverse reactions, most of which could be due to parasite lysis. This fact could be a strong argument for treating human toxocariasis with MBZ.