[Treatment of human onchocerciasis with ivermectin]

Twenty immigrants from Mali and West Senegal were treated in Paris. Onchocerciasis was diagnosed by six skin snips using a Holth punch. Ivermectine was given in a single oral dose: ten patients were given 50 mcg/kg, three were given 75 mcg/kg and seven received 100 mcg/kg. No patients had ocular symptoms. The results were as follows: Pruritus disappeared rapidly in 9 out of 11 patients who itched before treatment. The microfilarial load decreased rapidly, especially in cases treated with 75 mcg/kg and 100 mcg/kg as all patients tested on day 60 were negative. Clinical signs of the Mazzotti reaction and ocular reactions were not observed following the treatment. Pruritus was briefly aggravated in only two patients. No cardiovascular, hematological, hepatic or renal toxicity was noted.