Relative efficacy of melarsen oxide compared with mel Cy (Cymelarsan) when used in combination with difluoromethylornithine in the treatment of trypanosomiasis of the central nervous system.

A comparison was made between the efficacy of mel Cy (Cymelarsan) and melarsen oxide to cure central nervous system trypanosomiasis in a chronic Trypanosoma brucei mouse model. Combination treatment with difluoromethylornithine and arsenical was used and it was found that there was only a marginal advantage in using the water-soluble mel Cy in terms of the numbers of mice cured.