Antiminth (pyrantel pamoate)

A new broad-spectrum anthelminthic, anti minth (pyrantel pamoate), has been evaluated in 1,506 patients, mainly children. Single doses of 5/mg/lb/body weight (base activity) showed high overall efficacy against Enterobius vermicularis (97.2%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (97.5%). In tropical locations, in patients with multiple in festataons, single doses of 10 mg/lb/day for three consecutive days achieved a cure rate of 86.4 per cent with Necator americanus. With a smaller number of patients, a lower dosage of 5 mg/lb/day for three consecutive days was also effective (90.7%). At recommended doses (5 mg/lb/day), Antiminth (pyrantel pamoate) was well tolerated and free of adverse effects upon hematologic, renal, and hepatic function. There was not the troublesome staining seen with certain other anthelminthics. The safety profile was further substantiated by clinical experience with doses in excess of 5 mg/lb/body weight, at times carried on for several weeks.

Serum IgE concentrations in relation to anti-helminthic treatment in a Javanese population with hookworm

Serum IgE levels were high in a hookworm-infested Javanese population. Levels increased following treatment with anti-helminthics.

Individuals who showed evidence of control of reinfestation after treatment had lower serum IgE levels than the remainder.

Pyrantel embonate in treatment of hookworm infestation

The efficacy of pyrantel embonate (1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-2-(trans-2-(2-thienyl)-vinyl)-pyrimidine embonic acid salt; Combantrin) was evaluated in 60 cases of hookworm infestation. They were divided into six groups of 10 cases. Pyrantel embonate was administered orally, in dosage schedules (randomized) of 100, 75, 50, 20, 15, and 10 mg/kg of body weight. The stool examination for hookworm ova and coproculture were positive in each case. The predominant species was Ancylostoma duodenale (in 58 patients). After treatment with pyrantel embonate the stool examination for hookworm ova and coproculture were negative on the 10th and 15th days in each group. The blood levels of the drug were significantly higher in patients receiving 100 and 75 mg/kg body weight. In groups A and B one patient experienced nausea and vomiting on the day of administration of drug. There were no abnormal changes in liver function tests or blood urea levels in any of the groups. Hence the optimum single dose of the drug effective against hookworm infestation is 10 mg/kg body weight, and further studies are required to evaluate the minimum effective dose of pyrantel embonate.