Experimental filariasis of Dipetalonema dessetae in Proechimys oris: 3. Effects of parasitism on the pharmacokinetics of diethylcarbamazine.

The pharmacokinetic parameters of diethylcarbamazine were compared in the plasma and peritoneal fluid of 5 non-infected rodents. In the filarial animals, the absorption rate constant and the elimination rate constant were significantly increased. The peak plasma concentration was twofold higher in the infested rodents than the control animals, and this may account for the rapid action of diethylcarbamazine on blood-circulating microfilariae. The area under the curve was unchanged. Total clearance is slightly increased in filarial rodents. These data are explained by an important reduction of renal clearance combined with a moderate increase of extra renal clearance. High levels of diethylcarbamazine in peritoneal fluid, resulting from the excellent diffusion of the drug in filarial animals explains the activity on adult worms. But the parasitism does not affect the mechanism of distribution of the drug between plasma and peritoneal liquid.