This article is part of the supplement: Report of a Scientific Working Group on Serious Adverse Events following Mectizan® treatment of onchocerciasis in Loa loa endemic areas

Editorial

Overview: Report of a Scientific Working Group on Serious Adverse Events following Mectizan^® treatment of onchocerciasis in Loa loa endemic areas.

Brian OL Duke

River Blindness Foundation, 2 Hillside, Lancaster, LA1 1YH, United Kingdom

Filaria Journal 2003, 2(Suppl 1):S1doi:10.1186/1475-2883-2-S1-S1

Published:	24 October 2003

First paragraph (this article has no abstract)

This report reviews information on Serious Adverse Events (SAE), mainly Loa-encephalopathy, following treatment with ivermectin (Mectizan^®, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme) for control of onchocerciasis carried out by the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), in areas where heavy microfilarial infections with Loa loa are co-endemic with Onchocerca volvulus infections. It also endeavours to define the information and research needed to understand, prevent, and manage cases of Loa-encephalopathy.