Ivermectin for onchocercal eye disease (river blindness) (Review)

visually impaired or blind during follow up’ using the WHO definition.
However, the visual acuity or visual field in the worse eye
rather than the better eye should define an individual with visual
impairment or blindness. This is to ensure that the real impact of
onchocerciasis on blindness and visual impairment is not underestimated.
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
We are grateful to:
• Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group for advice on protocol
and review and assistance with searching for trials;
• Cochrane Oral Health Group for orientation training on
protocol development;
• The Institute of Ophthalmology for financial support;
• Everyone who responded to queries about trials of
ivermectin for onchocerciasis;
• Allen Foster and Paul Garner for peer review comments on
this review.
References to studies included in this review
Abiose 1993 {published data only}
∗ Abiose A, Jones BR, Cousens SN, Murdoch I, Cassels-Brown A,
Babalola OE, et al.Reduction in incidence of optic nerve disease
with annual ivermectin to control onchocerciasis. Lancet 1993;341
(8838):130–4.
Cousens SN, Cassels-Brown A, Murdoch I, Babalola OE, Jatau D,
Alexander NDE, et al.Impact of annual dosing with ivermectin on
progression of onchocercal visual field loss. Bulletin of the World
Health Organization 1997;75(3):229–36.
Dadzie 1989 {published data only}
Dadzie KY, Awadzi K, Bird AC, Schulz-Key H. Ophthalmological
results from a placebo controlled comparative 3-dose ivermectin
study in the treatment of onchocerciasis. Tropical Medicine and
Parasitology 1989;40(3):355–60.
Taylor 1988 {published data only}
∗ Newland HS, White AT, Greene BM, D’Anna SA, Keyvan-
Larijani E, Aziz MA, et al.Effect of single-dose ivermectin therapy
on human onchocerca volvulus infection with onchocercal ocular
involvement. British Journal of Ophthalmology 1988;72(8):561–9.
Taylor HR, Semba RD, Newland HS, Keyvan-Larijani E, White A,
Dukuly Z, et al.Ivermectin treatment of patients with severe ocular
R E F E R E N C E S
Ivermectin for onchocercal eye disease (river blindness) (Review)
Copyright © 2009 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
onchocerciasis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
1989;40(5):494–500.
White A, Newland HS, Taylor HR, Semba RD, Erttmann KD,
Keyvan-Larijani E, et al.Controlled trial and dose-finding study of
ivermectin for treatment of onchocerciasis. Journal of Infectious
Diseases 1987;156(3):463–70.
Whitworth 1991 {published data only}
∗ Whitworth JAG, Gilbert CE, Mabey DM, Maude GH, Morgan
D, Taylor DW. Effects of repeated doses of ivermectin on ocular
onchocerciasis: community-based trial in Sierra Leone. Lancet
1991;338(8775):1100–3.
Whitworth JAG, Morgan D, Maude GH, Downham MD, Taylor
DW. A community trial of ivermectin for onchocerciasis in Sierra
Leone: adverse reactions after the first five treatment rounds.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
1991;85(4):501–5.
Whitworth JAG, Morgan D, Maude GH, Luty AJF, Taylor DW. A
community trial of ivermectin for onchocerciasis in Sierra Leone:
clinical and parasitological responses to four doses given at sixmonthly
intervals. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical
Medicine and Hygiene 1992;86(3):277–80.
Whitworth JAG, Morgan D, Maude GH, Taylor DW. Communitybased
treatment with ivermectin. Lancet 1988;ii:97–98.
References to studies excluded from this review
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