[Value of cytapheresis in the treatment of loaiasis with high blood microfilaria levels. Results in 7 cases].

Seven patients infected with the filarial worm Loa loa received a treatment by cytapheresis in an attempt to lower the microfilaraemia. Microfilarial levels of between 6,000 and 38,500 ml, before extraction, were reduced, according to the case, by between 47 and 97% (mean 76%). The diethylcarbamazine chemotherapy which followed in 6 of 7 patients showed no sign of any of the serious side-effects which often occur in these type of cases. Due to its practicality and the fact that it is well tolerated, both clinically and biologically, cytapheresis would seem to represent the best method for initially treating loaiasis with high microfilaremia.