Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0042961 (volvulus)
 4,305 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Ivermectin is a macrocyclic lactone (fermentation) product and actinomycete (Streptomyces avermitilis) that possesses an unusually broad spectrum of potent activity against several species of nematodes, arachnids, and insects that parasitize domestic animals. From clinical trials in humans it has been found to be microfilaricidal, killing microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus (the parasite causing onchocerciasis), and interrupting its transmission by the black fly vector. Dermal microfilariae density in patients are reduced to near zero levels for 6-12 months after a single oral dose of ivermectin 0.15-0.2 mg/kg. Its precise mechanism of action is unknown. It has a time to maximum concentration of 2.7-4.3 h, and an elimination half-life of 28 +/- 10 h. When compared with an oral solution the tablet dosage form has a relative bioavailability of approximately 60 percent. Not much is known about its metabolism in humans, and the unchanged drug is not detected in the urine. Controlled clinical trials have shown ivermectin to be associated with milder side effects than diethylcarbamazine, the current drug of choice for onchocerciasis therapy. It does not cause the severe Mazzoti-type (anaphylactoid) reactions that are associated with diethylcarbamazine use. Ivermectin is effective, safer, and more tolerable than diethylcarbamazine. It should, therefore, replace diethylcarbamazine as the drug of choice for onchocerciasis therapy.
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PMID:Ivermectin: a long-acting microfilaricidal agent. 218 96

The prevalence of the apathogenic filaria Mansonella perstans was studied in four parishes in western Uganda as part of an onchocerciasis control programme to avoid futile treatment. Blood samples from 1543 persons aged over 14 years from 19 villages were examined for the presence of microfilariae using a modified Knott method. The prevalence of microfilaraemic persons ranged between the parishes from 39% (95% CI 35.9-42.0%) to 81% (95% CI 76.2-84.8%). With exception of single microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus no other filaria species was detected. Onchocerciasis mass treatment campaigns did not reduce the prevalence of M. perstans infection, since 6-12 months after treatment with a single dose of 150 micrograms/kg ivermectin the prevalence in 124 persons was about the same as before treatment. The QBC-fluorescence technique was employed for the detection of microfilariae in samples from outpatients of the government hospital in Fort Portal: in 16% of 120 children and 24% of 369 adults microfilariae of M. perstans were detected.
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PMID:Prevalence of Mansonella perstans in western Uganda and its detection using the QBC-fluorescence method. 857 45