Inhibiting polyamine synthesis is highly toxic to protozoal parasites [38]. Based on this observation, eflornithine was developed for the treatment of meninogoencephalitic stage of Trypanosoma bruceigambiense infection (African sleeping sickness). It is available as an Rx intravenous dose under the brand name Ornidyl from Aventis, for treatment of this infection. As a monotherapy, eflornithine has a high cure rate of 94% for Gambian sleeping sickness [39,40], and was found to be the only effective treatment for this disease in cases of melarsoprol relapse [41]. The high intravenous eflornithine dose (400 mg/kg/day or approximately 24 g/day) used for this indication has been associated with systemic adverse effects and hematological toxicities.
Other topical use for which eflornithine has been investigated includes actinic keratoses and pseudofoliculitis barbae (PFB). Topical treatment with eflornithine in a hydrophilic ointment for six months caused a significant reduction in the AK lesions [42]. Use of eflornithine cream as an adjunct to other hair-removal methods is recommended for subjects suffering from the PFB condition [43].