Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31420005›Full record

ArticleBMC pharmacology & toxicology2019

Analysis of severe adverse effects following community-based ivermectin treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Jean-Claude Makenga Bof, Daniel Muteba, Paul Mansiangi, Félicien Ilunga-Ilunga, Yves Coppieters

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pharmacology & toxicology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Open forum infectious diseases · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Jean-Claude Makenga BofSchool of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik numéro 808 à 1070, Brussels, Belgium. jcmakebof@yahoo.fr.
Daniel MutebaNational Program for Onchocerciasis Control (NPOC), Kinshasa, Gombe, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Paul MansiangiSchool of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Route de Kimwenza, Lemba, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Félicien Ilunga-IlungaSchool of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik numéro 808 à 1070, Brussels, Belgium.
Yves CoppietersSchool of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik numéro 808 à 1070, Brussels, Belgium.
Université Libre de Bruxelles · BEUniversity of Kinshasa · CD

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe progress of mass, community-directed, treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) for onchocerciasis control was disrupted by severe adverse effects (SAE) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study aimed at determining the frequency of post-CDTI SAE as well as factors associated with the occurrence of SAE.

methodsOur retrospective study relied on SAE collection cards, as archived by the DRC Ministry of Health, and compiled for people who benefited from ivermectin treatment then further developed SAE. The study included 945 post-CDTI SAE recorded in DRC between 2003 and 2017. These cases occurred in 15 projects out of 22 projects implemented in the country. All cards were reviewed and analysed.

resultsBetween the years 2003 and 2017, the total average population treated was around 15,552,588 among which 945 cases of SAE were registered in DR Congo, i.e. 6 cases of SAE for 100,000 persons treated per year. 55 deaths related to post-CDTI SAE were recorded, which represents 5.8% of all cases of SAE. Non-neurological SAE were dominated by severe headaches (74.8%), myalgia (64.0%) and arthralgia (62.7%). Neurological SAE were mainly coma (94.1%), motor deficit (75.4%) and palpebral subconjunctival haemorrhages (38.8%). Factors associated with the occurrence of SAE were: male, age over 18 years old, alcohol consumption, hemp intake and the presence of loiasis. The study also highlighted weaknesses of the National Program for Onchocerciasis Control (NPOC)  in terms of awareness campaigns among the population.

conclusionCo-endemicity of loiasis and onchocerciasis is one of the key factors responsible for the occurrence of SAE following ivermectin treatment. Mobilization of resources necessary to the appropriate management of SAE and awareness of populations are essential to achieve onchocerciasis control in DRC.

Indexed as

AdultCommunity MedicineDemocratic Republic of the CongoFemaleFilaricidesHumansIvermectinMaleOnchocerciasisRetrospective StudiesFilaricidesIvermectinCommunitiesCommunity-directed treatment with ivermectinDemocratic Republic of CongoIvermectinOnchocerciasisSevere adverse effects

Identifiers

PMID31420005
PMCPMC6697993
OpenAlexW2968535501

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.