Inflammation and fibrinolysis in loiasis before and after ivermectin treatment: a biological pilot cross-sectional study

Abstract

We assessed the impact of loiasis and its treatment with ivermectin on hemostasis and inflammation in 38 adults in Cameroon. Participants were divided into four balanced groups based on their Loa loa microfilarial densities. At baseline, a positive correlation was observed between microfilarial densities, neutrophils (p=0.012) and eosinophils (p<0.001). At day 4 following ivermectin administration, mean D-dimers significantly increased, from 725 ng/mL to 1,276 ng/mL (p=0.024). Mean eosinophils rose from 225/µL to 1,807/µL (p<0.001). C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and alpha-1-globulin also increased significantly after treatment. Ivermectin treatment appeared to induce inflammation and pronounced fibrinolysis, indicative of coagulation activation.