A 30-year-old man from Central Africa has Loa loa microfilaraemia of 55,000 mf/mL. Why is this clinically critical before treatment?...

Question

A 30-year-old man from Central Africa has Loa loa microfilaraemia of 55,000 mf/mL. Why is this clinically critical before treatment?

Accepted Answer

At >30,000 mf/mL, ivermectin or DEC carries serious risk of fatal encephalopathy from massive microfilarial destruction in cerebral capillaries

Answer

No significance

Answer

Means the patient is immune

Answer

Only albendazole carries this risk

Answer

Threshold is 1,000 mf/mL

uk-dtmh MCQ (SBA): Loa loa High Microfilaraemia Risk