Albendazole chemotherapy for human cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in north-western China.
Human echinococcosis is highly endemic in north-western China; the main treatment is by surgery. In this paper, we report the results of chemotherapy with albendazole (ABZ), 15-20 mg/kg/d orally, for 30 d with intervals of 10 d between treatments for 3-6 courses. For multi-organ cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE), patients were given 12-18 courses of ABZ. Patients were divided into 4 groups: (i) ABZ surgery group, albendazole with surgery for 21 CE cases: (ii) non-ABZ surgery group, 80 CE cases treated by surgery alone; (iii) ABZ CE group, albendazole treatment alone in 58 CE cases, and (iv) ABZ AE group, 14 AE patients treated by albendazole and surgical intervention and 5 AE patients treated by albendazole alone. Twenty-seven of 34 (79.4%) cysts in group (i) patients showed increased necrotic changes and decreased viability of the cysts compared to group (ii). However, 10 of 84 (11.9%) cysts in group (ii) patients showed spontaneous evidence of necrosis at surgery. In group (iii), ABZ treatment alone was successful in 14 (24.1%), resulted in improvement in 29 (50%) and had no effect in 15 (25.9%) patients. Seven cases in group (iv) improved, with diminished size of lesions which were non-viable. The remaining 7 cases in group (iv) showed evidence of cyst viability at surgery; 2 could not be saved after a further 15 courses of albendazole. Of the five AE patients in group (iv) who received only ABZ, one improved, 2 stabilized, one deteriorated and one died. Albendazole chemotherapy, while not completely effective, has an important role in treatment of both cystic and alveolar echinococcosis.
Wen
H
H
Department of Surgery, Xinjiang Medical College, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Zou
P F
PF
Yang
W G
WG
Lu
J
J
Wang
Y H
YH
Zhang
J H
JH
New
R R
RR
Craig
P S
PS
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015766:Albendazole