Efficacy of a Single Oral Dose of Artesunate plus Sulfalene-Pyrimethamineversus Praziquantel in the Treatment of Schistosoma mansoni in Kenyan Children: An Open-Label, Randomized, Exploratory Trial

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024 Feb 27;110(4):677-680. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0337. Print 2024 Apr 3.

Abstract

Unlike praziquantel, artemisinin derivatives are effective against juvenile schistosome worms. We assessed the efficacy and safety of a single oral dose of artesunate plus sulfalene-pyrimethamine versus praziquantel in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni. Seventy-three schoolchildren (aged 9-15 years) with confirmed S. mansoni infection in Rarieda, western Kenya, were randomly assigned to receive either a single oral dose of artesunate plus sulfalene-pyrimethamine (n = 39) or a single dose of praziquantel (n = 34). The cure and egg reduction rates at 4 weeks posttreatment were 69.4% (25/36) versus 80.6% (25/31) (P = 0.297) and 99.1% versus 97.5% (P = 0.607) in the artesunate plus sulfalene-pyrimethamine group versus praziquantel group, respectively. Fourteen children developed adverse events, and there were no serious adverse events. A single oral dose of artesunate plus sulfalene-pyrimethamine has efficacy comparable to that of praziquantel in the treatment of S. mansoni, but these results should be confirmed in larger randomized controlled trials.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics* / therapeutic use
  • Artemisinins* / adverse effects
  • Artesunate / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • East African People
  • Humans
  • Kenya
  • Praziquantel / adverse effects
  • Pyrimethamine / therapeutic use
  • Schistosoma mansoni
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni* / drug therapy
  • Sulfalene* / pharmacology
  • Sulfalene* / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Artemisinins
  • Artesunate
  • Praziquantel
  • Pyrimethamine
  • Sulfalene