title: [The long-term course of 60 patients with alveolar echinococcosis in continuous therapy with mebendazole (1976-85)].
abstract: Since 1976 60 patients with inoperable alveolar echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus multilocularis were treated with high doses of mebendazole and examined at regular intervals prospectively according to our protocol regarding clinical course, liver function, morphology, immunologically and plasma mebendazole levels. The average duration of disease was 8(1-19) years, the average duration of chemotherapy was 4.25 (0.75-9) years. The long term results showed a correlation of the clinical course with the mean plasma mebendazole levels and the duration of chemotherapy, respectively. Death (n = 5) or transient progression of the disease process (n = 14) was observed primarily in patients with low plasma mebendazole levels in the early course and within the first two years of chemotherapy. Only 9 patients showed a decrease of the parasite mass. Immundiagnosis (total serum IgE and serum antibodies against Echinococcus antigen) gave some information with regard to therapy results, but only in the long-term course. The cumulative survival of the patients under study was 96% at 5 years and 84% at 10 years, respectively which is markedly higher compared to historical control series with a letality of greater than 90% within 10 years.
authors.affiliation: Schweizerische Echinokokkose-Studiengruppe (SESG); Universitätsspital Zürich.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ammann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tschudi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Ziegler
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cotting
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Witassek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freiburghaus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004445:Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D008463:Mebendazole
vernacular_title: Langzeitverlauf bei 60 Patienten mit alveolärer Echinokokkose unter Dauertherapie mit Mebendazol (1976-85).