Fumagillin in Amebiasis

Abstract

Summary Fumagillin, orally, is active directly against E. histolytica in macaques and man. In man, at a total dosage of 100 mgm. over 12½ days, 9 of 10 cyst passers remained clear during 3 months; 50 mgm. total cleared only 4 of 10 patients. In monkeys, total dosage of 250–625 mgm./Kg. over 5 to 10 days was required to keep 12 of 19 animals cleared during 3 months. No signs nor symptoms of intolerance were noted in man. In monkeys, one showed retention of sulfobromophthalein while another had increased blood urea nitrogen after therapy. Other laboratory findings were not significant in either monkeys or man. Nonpathogenic intestinal parasites did not clear consistently in either mammalian species. There was close correlation between results in monkeys and man generally. A comparative study with untreated controls and with terramycin and thiocarbarsone treated patients was made. Fumagillin was most potent and appeared to be most active in chronic, drug refractive, intestinal amebiasis.