title: Angiostrongylus cantonensis: efficacy of albendazole-dexamethasone co-therapy against infection-induced plasminogen activators and eosinophilic meningitis.
abstract: Angiostrongyliasis is one of the common causes leading to eosinophilic meningitis. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) may play a role in the pathogenesis. Administration of steroid drugs has been reported to possibly relieve the symptoms of eosinophilic meningitis. This study evaluates the curative effects of albendazole-dexamethasone co-therapy on eosinophilic meningitis in BALB/c mice. Assay indicators for the therapeutic effect include worm recovery, histopathological score of meningitis, tPA, uPA, total protein, and leukocyte counts. The results show that the albendazole-dexamethasone co-therapy significantly decreased (P<0.05) these factors after treatment on day 5 post-inoculation (PI), in contrast to treatment on 15 PI. Thus, the timing of medication is important and is closely related to the anthelmintic efficacy of a drug. At the same dosage and days post-infection, the earlier administration shows better results. This study showed that albendazole-dexamethasone co-therapy is an effective approach for the treatment of parasitic meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wu-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Shih-Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D020809:Central Nervous System Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D015848:Interleukin-5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D015766:Albendazole