What is the effect of combining artesunate and praziquantel in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infections ?

A group of 110 individuals with Schistosoma mansoni infection was investiga ted. Patients were allocated to one of three treatment groups and given art esunate or praziquantel alone or both in combination. Combined artesunate-p raziquantel significantly increased the number of individuals cured at 5 we eks post-treatment, but at 12 weeks was only better than artesunate alone a nd at 24 weeks there was no statistically significant difference between th e three groups. Egg count reduction rate was similar to the rate obtained w ith praziquantel used alone.