Clinical experience with praziquantel in the treatment of Nigerian patients infected with S. haematobium.

A double-blind controlled trial of 2-cyclohexylcarbonyl-1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-4H-pyrazino[2,1-a] isoquinolin-4-one (praziquantel, EMBAY 8440, Biltricide) in the treatment of vesical schistosomiasis has been carried out in 90 Nigerian schoolchildren of both sexes aged 9--16 years. Oral doses of 1 x 30, 1 x 40, and 2 x 20 mg/kg b.w. were assessed against placebo at 1 x 40 mg/kg, and the subjects followed up for up to twelve months after treatment. The results showed that the drug is very effective against S. haematobium infections and well tolerated. There were not significant differences between the three dosage groups, and the drug had no adverse haematological or biochemical effects. It is concluded that praziquantel widely meets the requirements necessary for use in large scale control of vesical schistosomiasis.