Praziquantel in the treatment of the hepatosplenic form of Schistosomiasis mansoni

Abstract

40 patients with the hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis mansoni were selected for this study. Among 29 patients submitted to oral endoscopy there were 28 in whom oesophageal varices were demonstrated and 20 out of 21 patients who presented gastrointestinal haemorrhage had been operated on. All patients received a single oral dose of 40 mg/kg b.w. of 2-cyclohexylcarbonyl-1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-4H-pyrazino[2,1-a]isoquinolin-4-one (praziquantel, EMBAY 8440, Biltricide). Unwanted side effects were recorded when spontaneously reported. These were rather frequent but generally mild and disappeared within hours without additional medication. Comprehensive laboratory tests as well as ECG and EEG dit not show any significant changes. 27 patients were parasitologically followed up for 3-6 months; 26 of them were egg-negative. In the 18 patients who could be followed up for more than 6 months, the cure rate was 94.4%.

Conclusion: praziquantel can be safely given also to patients with hepatosplenic complications.