Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Chemotherapy of filariases

1991; Elsevier BV; Volume: 7; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0169-4758(91)90137-d

1873-1473

Elizabeth A. Vande Waa,

Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies

The filarial parasites that affect humans most seriously include Onchocerca volvulus, Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Loa loa. In general, these species cause disease that is debilitating long before it is fatal, producing clinical manifestations such as general malaise, pruritus and lichenification of the skin, lymphangitis, elephantiasis and blindness1. As a result, infection with any one of these organisms is physically, as well as economically, devastating. Currently, the pharmacological armamentarium with which to treat filarial infections is very limited and many of the drugs that are known to be efficacious against these worms may produce side effects that cause extreme discomfort. Here, Elizabeth Vande Waa describes the quest for new chemotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of filarial infections.