The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Dec 2009
Loa loa microfilarial periodicity in ivermectin-treated patients: comparison between those developing and those free of serious adverse events.
The main risk factor of post-ivermectin serious adverse events (SAEs) is the presence of a high Loa loa microfilaremia. However, the majority of patients with such high loads do not develop SAEs, suggesting that co-factors may be involved. ⋯ The periodicity was similar in all three groups, with a peak of microfilaremia occurring between 12:30 and 2:00 PM. The results of this study, which for the first time characterizes the periodicity of Loa microfilariae mathematically, suggest that post-ivermectin SAEs are not related to an infection with a Loa simian strain.