title: Long-term evaluation of patients with hydatidosis treated with benzimidazole carbamates.
abstract: Four hundred forty-eight patients with 929 Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts received 3- to 6-month continuous cycles of mebendazole or albendazole treatment and underwent prolonged follow-up by clinical visits and imaging studies (range, 1-14 years) to assess the long-term outcome of treatment. Degenerative changes and relapse were assessed by imaging techniques. At the end of therapy, 74.1% of the hydatid cysts showed degenerative changes. These were more frequent in albendazole-treated than in mebendazole-treated cysts (82.2% vs. 56.1%; P < .001). During long-term follow-up, 104 cysts (22%) had degenerative changes that progressed, whereas 163 cysts (approximately 25%) relapsed. The percentages of relapses in the two drug-treated groups were almost the same. Relapses occurred more frequently in type II cysts of the liver. Cysts recurred most often (78.5%; P < .001) within the first 2 years after treatment ended. Further chemotherapy cycles induced degenerative changes in >90% of relapsed cysts without inducing more frequent or more severe side effects than those observed during the initial cycles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Di Vico
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teggi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015766:Albendazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002219:Carbamates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004445:Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004446:Echinococcus; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D002219:Carbamates; D008463:Mebendazole; C031000:benzimidazole; D015766:Albendazole