title: Neurocysticercosis: treatment with albendazole and dextrochloropheniramine.
abstract: We evaluated the use of albendazole in combination with dextrochloropheniramine for the treatment of neurocysticercosis. Forty patients were treated from September 1984 to December 1987; each was diagnosed on the basis of clinical, epidemiological, cerebrospinal fluid and tomographic data. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the albendazole treatment schedule. Group I received 10-15 mg/kg albendazole daily; group II received 15-25 mg/kg/d; group III received 15-30 mg/kg/d. Each patient also received simultaneously 18 mg/d of dextrochloropheniramine. Clinical improvement was observed in 4 patients in group I (50.0%), 10 patients in group II (83.3%) and 18 patients in group III (94.7%). Three patients in group II, and one in group III, died. Group III patients showed a significant improvement in quality of life compared to the other 2 groups. Side effects were insignificant in all groups. The combination of albendazole and dextrochloropheniramine seems to be a promising treatment for neurocysticercosis, especially at the doses used for group III, i.e. 15 mg/kg/d of albendazole for 21 d followed by 20-30 mg/kg/d for 30 d after a one-week interval, in combination with 18 mg/d of dextrochloropheniramine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, UNESP, Brazil.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agapejev
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Meira
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barraviera
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamegasawa
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002744:Chlorpheniramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D003552:Cysticercus / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: C018904:dexchlorpheniramine; D002744:Chlorpheniramine; D015766:Albendazole