[Treatment of alveolar echinococcosis: a multidisciplinary task].
Alveolar echinococcosis is characterized by a long asymptomatic period but, without treatment, up to 80% of patients may die within ten years of diagnosis. Owing to a lack of fast-acting and fully effective chemotherapy, partial radical hepatic resection is the only chance of cure. One-third of patients are now treated in this way, and complex vascular and biliary reconstruction procedures are sometimes necessary. Liver transplantation may also be indicated for highly selected patients (about 5%) with life-threatening complications after failure of other treatments. Interventional radiology and endoscopy can be used to drain liver abscesses and/or infected and obstructed bile ducts, either as palliative procedures or as a bridge to radical resection. Parasitostatic benzimidazole therapy, especially based on continuous albendazole administration, is mandatory for at least two years after radical resection, and for life in inoperable patients.
Mantion
Georges
G
Centre Collaborateur OMS pour la prévention et le traitement des échinococcoses humaines, CHU Besançon.
Bresson-Hadni
Solange
S
Vuitton
Dominique-Angèle
DA
Wen
Hao
H
Chapuis
Yves
Y
Gillet
Michel
M
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000601:surgery; D004445:Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D010348:Patient Care Team
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents