title: The effect of albendazole treatment on seizure outcomes in patients with symptomatic neurocysticercosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Randomized controlled trials have found an inconsistent effect of anthelmintic treatment on long-term seizure outcomes in neurocysticercosis. The objective of this study was to further explore the effect of albendazole treatment on long-term seizure outcomes and to determine if there is evidence for a differential effect by seizure type.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this trial, 178 patients with active or transitional neurocysticercosis cysts and new-onset symptoms were randomized to 8 days of treatment with albendazole (n=88) or placebo (n=90), both with prednisone, and followed for 24 months. We used negative binomial regression and logistic regression models to determine the effect of albendazole on the number of seizures and probability of recurrent or new-onset seizures, respectively, over follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with albendazole was associated with a reduction in the number of seizures during 24 months of follow-up, but this was only significant for generalized seizures during months 1-12 (unadjusted rate ratio [RR] 0.19; 95% CI: 0.04-0.91) and months 1-24 (unadjusted RR 0.06; 95% CI: 0.01-0.57). We did not detect a significant effect of albendazole on reducing the number of focal seizures or on the probability of having a seizure, regardless of seizure type or time period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Albendazole treatment may be associated with some symptomatic improvement; however, this association seems to be specific to generalized seizures. Future research is needed to identify strategies to better reduce long-term seizure burden in patients with neurocysticercosis.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology & Biostatistics Program, School of Urban Public Health at Hunter College, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10035, USA CUNY School of Public Health, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10035, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Romo
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology & Biostatistics Program, School of Urban Public Health at Hunter College, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10035, USA CUNY School of Public Health, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10035, USA Doctor of Public Health Program, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wyka
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Cuenca, Av. 12 de Abril s/n, Cuenca, Ecuador Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carpio
authors.affiliation: MRI Diagnostics of Westchester, 503 Grasslands Road, Suite 100, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bagiella
authors.affiliation: Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: W Allen
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology & Biostatistics Program, School of Urban Public Health at Hunter College, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10035, USA CUNY School of Public Health, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10035, USA Doctor of Public Health Program, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA ekelvin@hunter.cuny.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kelvin
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D003560:Cysts / Q000469:parasitology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012640:Seizures / Q000469:parasitology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015766:Albendazole; D011241:Prednisone
keywords: Albendazole; Cestode infections; Helminths; Neurocysticercosis; Seizures; Taenia solium