Albendazole for treatment and prophylaxis of microsporidiosis due to Encephalitozoon intestinalis in patients with AIDS: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.
A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of albendazole (400 mg twice daily for 3 weeks) for the treatment of Encephalitozoon intestinalis infection in patients with AIDS. Clearance of microsporidia from the intestinal tract was obtained in 4 of 4 patients in the albendazole group versus 0 of 4 in the control group (P = .01, one-sided Fisher's exact test) and was associated with significant clinical benefit. All 4 controls subsequently cleared microsporidia following open-labeled albendazole treatment. To investigate the effect of albendazole in preventing relapse, these 8 patients were then randomly assigned to receive either albendazole (400 mg twice daily) or no treatment for the next 12 months. Albendazole significantly delayed the occurrence of relapse (P = .04, one-sided log-rank test). In human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with E. intestinalis infection, albendazole has parasitologic and clinical efficacy and reduces the risk of relapse.
Molina
J M
JM
Division of Infectious Diseases, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France. molina@chu-stlouis.fr
Chastang
C
C
Goguel
J
J
Michiels
J F
JF
Sarfati
C
C
Desportes-Livage
I
I
Horton
J
J
Derouin
F
F
Modaï
J
J
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016819:Encephalitozoon / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos
D000871:Anthelmintics; D010919:Placebos; D015766:Albendazole