Three day albendazole therapy in patients with a solitary cysticercus granuloma: a randomized double blind placebo controlled study.
A solitary cysticercus granuloma is a benign form of neurocysticercosis. Several reports have suggested albendazole is effective in early resolution of these lesions. A short duration (7 days) albendazole therapy has been found to be effective in treatment. In this study, we evaluated a "three day course" of albendazole in a prospective randomized double- blind trial. Sixty-seven consecutive patients who presented with new-onset seizures and a solitary cysticercus granuloma were randomly allocated to receive either albendazole (15 mg/kg/day for 3 days) or placebo. All patients were treated with antiepileptic drugs. Patients were followed up for 6 months. A repeat CT of the brain was obtained at the end of 6 months of follow-up. The end points were complete resolution of the lesion on CT scan and total seizure control at 6 months follow-up. In the albendazole group complete resolution of lesions was noted in 28 of 33 patients (84.8%), while in the control group only 14 of 34 patients (41.2%) had complete resolution of the lesion (p = 0.001). Partial resolution of lesion was seen in 2 patients (6%) in the albendazole group and 4 patients (11.8%) in the control group (p = 0.06). The lesion remained unchanged in 9 cases (26.5%) in the control group only. The lesion became calcified in 7 (20.6%) and 3 (9.1%) patients in the control and albendazole groups, respectively (p = 0.187). Seizure recurrence occurred in 3 patients (9.1%) in the albendazole and 1 patient (2.9%) in the control group (p = 0.239). The three days course of albendazole was effective in resolving lesions, but there was no significant difference in seizure recurrence rates between the two treatment groups.
Chaurasia
Rameshwar Nath
RN
Department of Neurology, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India.
Garg
Ravindra Kumar
RK
Agarwall
Atul
A
Kohli
Neera
N
Verma
Rajesh
R
Singh
Maneesh Kumar
MK
Shukla
Rakesh
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000923:Anticestodal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000923:Anticestodal Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D015766:Albendazole