title: The effect of combination therapy with albendazole and praziquantel on hydatid cyst treatment.
abstract: The standard therapy of hydatid cyst is surgery but, in nonoperable patients and multiple organ involvement, medical therapy may be more useful. The efficacy of drugs especially in short-term treatment of hydatid cyst is unknown. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of combination therapy with albendazole and praziquantel in the treatment of hydatid diseases. In a nonrandomized quasi-experimental study, nine patients with multiple hydatid cysts were treated with albendazole (400 mg/twice a day) and praziquantel (40 mg/kg per day) twice a week for 4 weeks. This regimen was repeated for three courses with a 2-week interval between each one. The average follow-up period after treatment was 18 months. Response to treatment was assessed through the observation of the symptoms and radiologic findings (computed axial tomography scan, sonography, X-ray). Symptoms disappeared in seven (77.8%) patients and improved partially in two (22.2%) patients. Radiological assessment showed significant improvement in five (55.6%) and partial improvement in four (44.4%) patients. Combination therapy with albendazole and praziquantel is effective in the treatment of hydatid cyst and can be used as an alternative to surgery in disseminated and nonoperable cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Hormozgan, P.O. Box 13185-1678, Tehran, Iran. swt_f@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mahin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jamshidi
authors.forename: Minou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohraz
authors.forename: Mehrangiz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zangeneh
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jamshidi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel; D015766:Albendazole