Double blind clinical trial on centperazine & DEC in bancroftian filariasis

Centperazine, an analogue of DEC, was subjected to a double blind controlled trial, to evaluate its efficacy as a newer antifilarial agent. Centperazine (300 mg/day) along with equivalent quantities of DEC and placebo were administered to different types of filariasis patients. DEC was found to be significantly effective in reducing peripheral microfilaraemia, in different weeks and months of follow-up, except at the end of 6th month, as compared to Centperazine. There was no significant difference between the placebo and Centperazine treated patients, in this respect, revealing that the drugs had no efficacy in eliminating peripheral microfilaraemia. Recurrence of acute attack within 6 months was nearly equal with both Centperazine and DEC, being 28.2 and 24 per cent respectively, whereas in the placebo group the recurrence rate was 48.9 per cent. Centperazine treated patients showed significantly less side effects (8.9%), as compared to DEC treated patients (34%). Giddiness, nausea and vomiting were the common adverse effects observed.