ArticleDrugs - real world outcomes2021
Praziquantel and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Hepatic Schistosomiasis: A Quasi-Experimental Study.
Article in Drugs - real world outcomes, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.
- Liver and spleen ultrasonography and elastography are useful for identifying a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with schistosomiasis.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Article
- Hepatic schistosomiasis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and health related quality of life measurements from the Albert Nile Basin.Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThere is a general consensus that widespread use of praziquantel in populations where schistosomiasis is endemic prevents development of hepatic schistosomiasis and its complications. However, a few studies have reported discordant findings linking praziquantel to the occurrence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in some patients with hepatic schistosomiasis and varices.
objectiveWe explored if there was any causal association between recent praziquantel use (rPZQ) and upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hepatic schistosomiasis in rural Africa. PATIENTS AND
methodsA quasi-experimental, retrospective case-controlled study was performed. It involved adult patients with past or acute UGIB, varices, periportal fibrosis, and/or cirrhosis. Cases had acute variceal bleeding while controls did not. The outcome was the frequency of lifetime episodes of UGIB and exposure was rPZQ (received praziquantel in the last 11 months from the date of enrollment). The data analysis included 2 × 2 tables, logistic regression, and propensity-score matching. Odds ratios (ORs), average treatment effects (ATEs), and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used for inference.
resultsOver 6 weeks, we enrolled 19 cases with 92 lifetime episodes of UGIB, and 66 controls with 192 lifetime episodes of UGIB. Cases were more likely to experience UGIB than controls following rPZQ (92% vs. 62%; OR 7.6; 95% CI 3.4-17). Factors predictive of more lifetime episodes of UGIB at multivariable analysis included rPZQ (adjusted OR 13; 95% CI 2.9-53), relative leukocytosis (adjusted OR 26; 95% CI 7.6-89), large varices (adjusted OR 5.0; 95% CI 1.7-15), a family member with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (adjusted OR 19; 95% CI 7.4-51), advanced periportal fibrosis (adjusted OR 8.0; 95% CI 2.6-22), ascites (adjusted OR 14; 95% CI 4.3-47), and jaundice (adjusted OR 32; 95% CI 7.8-128). While the ATE following rPZQ among the treated was 0.40 (95% CI 0.33-0.48).
conclusionsOur findings suggest the presence of a plausible causal association between recent praziquantel use and increased frequency of UGIB in our study population.
Identifiers
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Registered trials
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