Three- to 7-year follow-up after albendazole treatment of 68 patients with cystic echinococcosis (hydatid disease)

J. Nahmias, R. Goldsmith, M. Soibelman, J. El-On

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sixty-eight cystic echinococcosis patients were each treated with 800 mg albendazole/day in four 28-day courses separated by 14-day drug-free intervals. Follow-up for 3-7 years showed that this treatment alone eradicated the cysts in many patients; in most of the remainder, disease progression stopped. Of the 59 patients with liver cyst(s), 41% were cured (all cysts disappeared), 17% showed marked improvement (> 25% contraction, complete consolidation), 24% limited improvement and 15% no change. Of the 12 patients with lung cyst(s), 72% were cured, 9% showed limited improvement and 18% showed no change (18%). No patient worsened but a recurrence occurred in two patients at about 56 months. The times taken to detect an initial cyst change and to detect cure were longer than is generally expected; initial cyst changes and cure could only be detected after 1 year in 12% and 69% of patients with liver cysts and 22% and 37% of those with lung cysts, respectively.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)295-304
Number of pages10
JournalAnnals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology
Volume88
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1994
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases

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