Table 1 Inclusion/exclusion criteria used for recruitment of patients in the study.

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.