title: Albendazole in the treatment of onchocerciasis: double-blind clinical trial in Venezuela.
abstract: A double-blind clinical trial was conducted in Monagas State, Venezuela to assess the tolerance and efficacy of albendazole in the therapy of Onchocerca volvulus infection. Forty-nine patients (26 treated and 23 controls) received a 10-day course of albendazole (400 mg/day) or a placebo. Consistent with the excellent tolerance observed, albendazole did not kill microfilariae. However, analysis of changes in microfilarial densities (mf/mg of skin) over one year showed that albendazole was active against O. volvulus, presumably by interfering with embryogenesis. The nature, degree, and duration of this effect remain to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Cline
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Mather
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartholomew
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: De Maza
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodulfo
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Welborn
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Eberhard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Convit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000469:parasitology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D015827:Onchocerciasis, Ocular / Q000188:drug therapy; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology; D014687:Venezuela
chemical_list: D015766:Albendazole