Table 1.
Inclusion/exclusion criteria used for recruitment of patients in the study.
Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
a) Patients with unilateral lower limb lymphoedema (of either grade I/II minimum for six months†) from area highly endemic for bancroftian filariasis. | a) Haemoglobin less than 10 gm/dl or haematocrit < 30%. |
b) Patients looking apparently healthy except as (a) above and with normal body weight as per age. | b) Clinical exclusion of patients with lymphoedema due to any other known aetiology other than filariasis (such as venous insufficiency, varicose ulcers). |
c) Patients with normal electro-cardiogram (ECG). | |
d) Patients with normal chest X-ray. | c) Patients presenting with acute adenolymphangitis at the time of recruitment. |
e) Results within normal limits in routine stool and urine examination. | d) Patients with a history of taking Daflon or DEC in the past 3 months. |
f) Results within normal limits for haemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, differential count, absolute eosinophil count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, packed cell volume. | e) Symptoms / signs of any other chronic illness |
g) Results within normal limits for blood urea, sugar, bilirubin, creatinine, cholesterol, serum sodium, potassium, chloride, protein, albumin, globulin, pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase. | f) Patients with a history of any drug intolerance, reaction or allergy. |
†As per diagnostic criteria of WHO, 1992 (Ref. No. [31]). Grade I: oedema reversible on elevation. Grade II: oedema not reversible on elevation, skin not thickened.