|
Inclusion/exclusion criteria used for recruitment of patients in the study. |
|
| Inclusion criteria |
Exclusion criteria |
|
|
|
| a) Patients with unilateral lower limb lymphoedema (of either grade I/II minimum for six months†) from area highly endemic for bancroftian filariasis. |
a) Haemoglobin less than 10 gm/dl or haematocrit < 30%. |
| b) Patients looking apparently healthy except as (a) above and with normal body weight as per age. |
b) Clinical exclusion of patients with lymphoedema due to any other known aetiology other than filariasis (such as venous insufficiency, varicose ulcers). |
| c) Patients with normal electro-cardiogram (ECG). |
|
| d) Patients with normal chest X-ray. |
c) Patients presenting with acute adenolymphangitis at the time of recruitment. |
| e) Results within normal limits in routine stool and urine examination. |
d) Patients with a history of taking Daflon or DEC in the past 3 months. |
| f) Results within normal limits for haemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, differential count, absolute eosinophil count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, packed cell volume. |
e) Symptoms / signs of any other chronic illness |
| g) Results within normal limits for blood urea, sugar, bilirubin, creatinine, cholesterol, serum sodium, potassium, chloride, protein, albumin, globulin, pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase. |
f) Patients with a history of any drug intolerance, reaction or allergy. |
|
†As per diagnostic criteria of WHO, 1992 (Ref. No. [31]). Grade I: oedema reversible on elevation. Grade II: oedema not reversible on elevation, skin not thickened. | |
Das et al. Filaria Journal 2003 2:5 doi:10.1186/1475-2883-2-5 |
|