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Treatment for Lymphatic Filariasis and Elephantiasis
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To the Editor: Dr Reddy and colleagues1 reviewed the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of treatment of multiple neglected tropical diseases. Clarification of several important points in their review is needed.
The article comments that combined drug therapy (diethylcarbamazine and albendazole or ivermectin and albendazole) significantly reduced the prevalence of "elephantiasis" and references our studies.2-3 Elephantiasis is not the appropriate term to describe studies of lymphatic filariasis and can lead to confusion. Both studies showed a significant decrease in microfilaremia, the presence of parasites found in the blood of patients infected with filarial parasites. None of the children in our studies had elephantiasis or lymphedema, although many were infected with filarial parasites and exhibited microfilaria in blood smears and filarial antigenemia.
Mass drug administration with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole or ivermectin and albendazole decreases the microfilaremia of lymphatic filariasis, but the effect of this therapy on elephantiasis or lymphedema is unknown. Numerous . . . [Full Text of this Article]
LeAnne Fox, MD, MPH, DTM&H
lfox@cdc.gov
Michael J. Beach, PhD;
Patrick J. Lammie, PhD
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Georgia
RELATED ARTICLE
Oral Drug Therapy for Multiple Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Systematic Review
Madhuri Reddy, Sudeep S. Gill, Sunila R. Kalkar, Wei Wu, Peter J. Anderson, and Paula A. Rochon
JAMA. 2007;298(16):1911-1924.
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RELATED LETTER
Treatment for Lymphatic Filariasis and Elephantiasis—Reply
Madhuri Reddy, Sudeep S. Gill, Sunila R. Kalkar, Wei Wu, Peter J. Anderson, and Paula A. Rochon
JAMA. 2008;299(6):633.
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