Comparison of 1 week versus 4 weeks of albendazole therapy in single small enhancing computed tomography lesion.
BACKGROUND
The appropriate duration of albendazole therapy in neurocysticercosis is uncertain. The observation in small uncontrolled randomized trials in children that short-course therapy (1 week) is as effective as the conventional regimen (4weeks) must be tested.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of 1 and 4 weeks of albendazole therapy in children with single small enhancing computed tomographic lesion (SSECTL).


METHODS
An open-labeled, randomized, clinical trial.


METHODS
One hundred twenty children with SSECTLs presenting with seizure.


METHODS
The subjects were assigned to two groups using random tables: group A (n=58) received albendazole for 1 week and group B (n=62) for 4 weeks. All the subjects were followed up for 6 months.


RESULTS
The proportions of subjects with complete resolution of lesion in the two groups were similar (group A 63.8% versus group B 51.6%). The proportion of subjects in the two groups in whom the lesion calcified on follow up (group A 19% versus group B 24.2%) also did not differ significantly. The incidence of seizure recurrence during the 6-month follow-up period was also similar in both the groups (group A 9.6% versus group B 3.4%, P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
One week of albendazole therapy is as effective as 4 weeks of therapy in children with SSECTLs.
Kaur
Prabhjeet
P
Department of Pediatrics, Government Multi Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh- 160 015, India.
Dhiman
Praveena
P
Dhawan
Neeraj
N
Nijhawan
Raman
R
Pandit
Sadbhavna
S
D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D015766:Albendazole