Dehydroemetine

Dehydroemetine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(11bS)-2-[[(1R)-6,7-Dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl]methyl]-3-ethyl-9,10-dimethoxy-4,6,7,11b-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinoline
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com International Drug Names
Identifiers
4914-30-1 Yes
P01AX09
PubChem CID 21022
ChemSpider 19773 
UNII 7S79QT1T91 
KEGG D00828 Yes
ChEMBL CHEMBL547470 
Chemical data
Formula C29H38N2O4
478.62 g/mol
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Dehydroemetine is a synthetically produced antiprotozoal agent similar to emetine in its anti-amoebic properties and structure (they differ only in a double bond next to the ethyl substituent), but it produces fewer side effects. In the United States, it is manufactured by Roche.

Mechanism

Its exact mechanism is not known, but in vitro it inhibits translocation.[1]

Uses

It is distributed by the Center for Disease Control on a compassionate use basis as an investigational drug for the treatment of metronidazole-resistant amoebiasis. [2]

Amoebic infections

Some examples of the use of dehydroemetine in the treatment of amoebic infections include:

  1. In 1993, the successful treatment of cutaneous amebiasis in a 7-year old girl with dehydroemetine and metronidazole in Mexico. [3]
  2. A double-blind study of oral dehydroemetine in the treatment of amoebiasis performed at St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Medical College, Seoul, Republic of Korea in 1973-1974 showed dehydroemetine treatment was effective. A total of 60 patients were treated, 20 with dehydroemetine, 20 with Tiberal, and 20 with metronidazole. One-fourth of the patients treated with dehydroemetine reported adverse reactions, compared to 20% with other drugs, but no patient discontinued therapy due to the reaction. In all three cases, the drug therapy resulted in clearance of the infection, defined as negative results through an O&P exam, in all but 1-2 patients.[4]
  3. A 1979 study of 27 patients treated with dehydroemetine and various other drugs suggested all drug combinations were successful at treating amoebic liver abscesses. [4]
  4. A 1986 in vitro study compared the effects of dehydroemetine, metronidazole, ornidazole, and secnidazole on Entamoeba histolytica. Metronidazole was found to be most effective, and the other three drugs were of similar effectiveness. [5]

In other diseases

A 1980 report described the use of dehydroemetine in treatment of herpes zoster, a condition which can produce painful neurological symptoms. The study involved 40 patients, all of whom were over 60, and compared dehydroemetine treatment to another drug. The study reported patients treated with dehydroemetine experienced relief of neuralgia with no changes in cardiovascular functions. [6]

Dehydroemetine has been investigated as a treatment for Leishmania infection. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Abdi, Y. A. (1995). Handbook of drugs for tropical parasitic infections. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis. p. 47. ISBN 0-7484-0168-7.
  2. ↑ "Center for Disease Control NCID Formulary". Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  3. ↑ Magaña-García M, Arista-Viveros A (1993). "Cutaneous amebiasis in children". Pediatric dermatology 10 (4): 352–5. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1470.1993.tb00397.x. PMID 8302738.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chun, Chong. "Amoebic Comparative Double Blind Trials of Tiberal Compared with Metronidazole and Oral dehydroemetine in Oligosymptomatic Amoebiasis". Korean Medical Database.
  5. ↑ Chintana T, Sucharit P, Mahakittikun V, Siripanth C, Suphadtanaphongs W (1986). "In vitro studies on the sensitivity of local Entamoeba histolytica to anti-amoebic drugs". Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health 17 (4): 591–4. PMID 2883732.
  6. ↑ Hernandez-Perez E (1980). "Dehydroemetine therapy for herpes zoster. A comparison with corticosteroids". Cutis; cutaneous medicine for the practitioner 25 (4): 424–6. PMID 6102504.
  7. ↑ Al-Khateeb GH, Al-Jeboori TI, Al-Janabi KA (1977). "In vitro efficacy of some drugs on promastigotes of Leishmania donovani". Chemotherapy 23 (4): 267–75. doi:10.1159/000221994. PMID 16732.