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A systematic review and an individual patient data meta-analysis of ivermectin use in children weighing less than fifteen kilograms: Is it time to reconsider the current contraindication?

Jittamala, Podjanee, Monteiro, Wuelton, Smit, Menno ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3405-6638, Pedrique, Belen, Specht, Sabine, Chaccour, Carlos J., Dard, Céline, Del Giudice, Pascal, Khieu, Virak, Maruani, Annabel, Failoc-Rojas, Virgilio E., Sáez-de-Ocariz, Marimar, Soriano-Arandes, Antoni, Piquero-Casals, Jaime, Faisant, Anne, Brenier-Pinchart, Marie-Pierre, Wimmersberger, David, Coulibaly, Jean T., Keiser, Jennifer, Boralevi, Franck, Sokana, Oliver, Marks, Michael, Engelman, Daniel, Romani, Lucia, Steer, Andrew C., von Seidlein, Lorenz, White, Nicholas J., Harriss, Eli, Stepniewska, Kasia, Humphreys, Georgina S., Kennon, Kalynn, Guerin, Philippe J. and Kobylinski, Kevin C. (2021) 'A systematic review and an individual patient data meta-analysis of ivermectin use in children weighing less than fifteen kilograms: Is it time to reconsider the current contraindication?'. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 15, Issue 3, e0009144.

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Abstract

Background: Oral ivermectin is a safe broad spectrum anthelminthic used for treating several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Currently, ivermectin use is contraindicated in children weighing less than 15 kg, restricting access to this drug for the treatment of NTDs. Here we provide an updated systematic review of the literature and we conducted an individual-level patient data (IPD) meta-analysis describing the safety of ivermectin in children weighing less than 15 kg. Methodology/Principal findings: A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for IPD guidelines by searching MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid Embase, LILACS, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, TOXLINE for all clinical trials, case series, case reports, and database entries for reports on the use of ivermectin in children weighing less than 15 kg that were published between 1 January 1980 to 25 October 2019. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42017056515. A total of 3,730 publications were identified, 97 were selected for potential inclusion, but only 17 sources describing 15 studies met the minimum criteria which consisted of known weights of children less than 15 kg linked to possible adverse events, and provided comprehensive IPD. A total of 1,088 children weighing less than 15 kg were administered oral ivermectin for one of the following indications: scabies, mass drug administration for scabies control, crusted scabies, cutaneous larva migrans, myiasis, pthiriasis, strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, and parasitic disease of unknown origin. Overall a total of 1.4% (15/1,088) of children experienced 18 adverse events all of which were mild and self-limiting. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions/Significance: Existing limited data suggest that oral ivermectin in children weighing less than 15 kilograms is safe. Data from well-designed clinical trials are needed to provide further assurance.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: QV Pharmacology > Anti-Inflammatory Agents. Anti-Infective Agents. Antineoplastic Agents > QV 250 Anti-infective agents (General)
QX Parasitology > Helminths. Annelida > QX 200 Helminths
WA Public Health > Preventive Medicine > WA 110 Prevention and control of communicable diseases. Transmission of infectious diseases
WA Public Health > Statistics. Surveys > WA 900 Public health statistics
WA Public Health > Statistics. Surveys > WA 950 Theory or methods of medical statistics. Epidemiologic methods
WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 880 Filariasis and related conditions (General)
WS Pediatrics > By Age Groups > WS 430 Infancy
Faculty: Department: Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009144
SWORD Depositor: JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User: Stacy Murtagh
Date Deposited: 18 Mar 2021 13:57
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 13:57
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/17288

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