Flagyl in the treatment of trichomoniasis.

Cosar and Julou (1959) studied this preparation in vitro and in vivo in the mouse and demonstrated very high activity against Trichomonas vaginalis. Their tests showed a low incidence of acute toxicity in mice and no evidence of chronic toxicity when they gave the drug by mouth to rats in amounts of up to 50 mg./kg. daily for one month and to dogs in amounts of up to 100 mg./kg. daily for the same period. The first clinical trials were those reported by Durel, Roiron, Siboulet, and Borel (1959), who gave Flagyl by mouth to a small number of men suffering from trichomonal urethritis, with excellent results. They also treated women suffering from trichomonal vaginitis, but most of them received concurrent local treatment with pessaries of Flagyl. The results with this combined treatment were again excellent. They found no response to the remedy in cases of urethritis or vaginitis in which Trichomonas vaginalis was not demonstrated. Confirmation of this work was given by Sylvestre, Gallai, and Ethier (1959) and again by Durel, Roiron, Siboulet, and Borel (1960). The latter made very modest claims for the drug used systemically in the treatment of females, suggesting that it was no more than a useful adjunct to local treatment but calling for further investigation of exclusively oral treatment.