Albendazole: A broad spectrum anthelminthic for treatment of individuals and populations

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases

Volumn 15, Issue 6, 2002, Pages 599-608

  Horton, John ^a,b  

^a GLAXOSMITHKLINE   (United Kingdom)

^b NONE   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Albendazole; Cysticercosis; Echinococcosis; Helminth; Microsporidiosis

Indexed keywords

ALBENDAZOLE; ANTHELMINTIC AGENT; BCG VACCINE; BENZIMIDAZOLE DERIVATIVE; CHOLERA VACCINE; CYCLODEXTRIN; DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE; IVERMECTIN; PRAZIQUANTEL;

ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME; ADULT; ANEMIA; CHILD; CLINICAL TRIAL; CYSTICERCOSIS; DRUG EFFICACY; DRUG FORMULATION; DRUG MECHANISM; DRUG METABOLISM; ECHINOCOCCOSIS; ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS; FILARIASIS; HELMINTH; HELMINTHIASIS; HIGH RISK POPULATION; HOOKWORM INFECTION; HUMAN; INFECTION CONTROL; MICROSPORIDIOSIS; NEUROCYSTICERCOSIS; NONHUMAN; ONCHOCERCIASIS; PARASITISM; PREGNANCY; REVIEW; SEIZURE; TOXOCARIASIS; VACCINATION;

EID: 0036919859     PISSN: 09517375     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/00001432-200212000-00008     Document Type: Review

References (129)

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11. Otubanjo OA, Mosuro AA. An in vivo evaluation of induction of abnormal sperm morphology by some anthelmintic drugs in mice. Mutat Res 2001; 497:131-138. Because of widespread use of benzimidazoles in community therapy, concern over safety is often expressed. There is particular concern over impact on rapidly dividing cells such as sperm. This paper examines a range of widely used anthelminthics and shows that the benzimidazoles and levamisole are devoid of effects.
12. Oxberry ME, Geary TG, Winterrowd CA, Prichard RK. Individual expression of recombinant alpha- and beta-tubulin from Haemonchus contortus: Polymerization and drug effects. Protein Expr Purif 2001; 21:30-39. An elegant paper using recombinant tubulins confirm the activity of albendazole as an antagonist of tubulin polymerization into microtubules. Comparison of the activity with colchicine suggests some sites and mechanisms of action.
13. Alvarez LI, Mottier ML, Sanchez SF, Lanusse CE, Ex vivo diffusion of albendazole and its sulfoxide metabolite into Ascaris suum and Fasciola hepatica. Parasitol Res 2001; 87:929-934. A question frequently asked is what is the effective drug moiety in the treatment of intestinal helminthiasis, given that drug absorption by the host is not required. This excellent experimental paper effectively answers the question for roundworm.
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15. Solana HD, Sallovitz JM, Lanusse CE, Rodriguez JA. Enatioselective binding of albendazole sulphoxide to cytosolic proteins from helminth parasites. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 2002; 24:7-13. Since albendazole is biotransformed into the (+) enantiomer in humans and by parasites, a knowledge of enatioselective binding in target intestinal and systemic parasites is important. A detailed discussion of the findings and their implication are given which may account for differences in efficacy against different parasites.
16. Geerts S, Gryseels B. Anthelminthic resistance in human helminths: A review. Trop Med Int Health 2001; 6:915-921. Accessible review of the current status of drug resistance in humans, some predictions for the future, how to provide early warning and to prevent drug resistance.
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18. Ananthakrishnan S, Das PK. Integrated programme for control of geohelminths: A perspective. Natl Med J India 2001; 14:148-153. An interesting and critical review of geohelminth control and integration within public health programmes. It considers the different benefits of control programmes and concludes that geohelminth control is best placed within nutrition or anaemia management. Has an excellent and comprehensive bibliography.
19. Thompson RC, Reynoldson JA, Garrow SC, et al. Towards the eradication of hookworm in an isolated Australian community. Lancet 2001; 357:770-771. This simple report shows how intervention can be effectively introduced, leading to eradication of hookworm that was an intractable problem leading to much ill-health. Failure to control other intestinal infections such as Giardia, however, is an issue.
20. Fallah M, Mirarab A, Jamalian F, Ghaderi A. Evaluation of two years of mass chemotherapy against ascarisis in Hamadan, Islamic Republic of Iran. Bull World Health Organ 2002; 80;399-402. Well presented study of mass treatment with marked reduction in prevalence of Ascaris over a 2-year period. No data have been published from this region of Iran.
21. Idris MA, Shaban MAA, Fatahalla M. Effective control of hookworm infection in school children from Dohar, Sultanate of Oman: A four year experience with albendazole mass chemotherapy. Acta Trop 2001; 80:139-143. In a community almost purely infected with hookworm, intermittent treatment with albendazole effectively eliminated the problem over a 4-year period.
22. Muchiri EM, Thiong'o FW, Magnussen P, Ouma JH. A comparative study of different albendazole and mebendazole regimens for the treatment of intestinal infections in school children of Usigu Division, western Kenya. J Parasitol 2001; 87:413-418. A huge efficacy study in school children that showed the greater efficacy against geohelminths (especially hookworm) of a 6 monthly albendazole regimen compared with mebendazole either 4 or 6 monthly.
23. Raja'a YA, Sulaiman SM, Mubarak JS, et al. Some aspects in the control of schistosomosis and soil-transmitted helminthosis in Yemeni children. Saudi Med J 2001; 22:428-432. This is a difficult paper, but contains some useful information especially on socioeconomic factors associated with infection with intestinal parasites. The treatment results suggest that while follow up at 1 year seems to be appropriate for schistosomiasis, by this time substantial reinfection had occurred.
24. Lee KJ, Ahn YK, Ryang YS. Enterobius vermicularis egg positive rates in primary school children in Gangwon-do (province), Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2001; 39:327-328. There are few recent reports on Enterobius infection despite the widespread distribution in children. This is essentially an epidemiological study, and while albendazole was used to treat patients identified in the surveys, no outcome data are provided.
25. Sirivichayakul C, Pojjaroen-anant C, Wisetsing P, et al. A comparative trial of albendazole alone versus combination of albendazole and praziquantel for treatment of Trichuris trichiura infection. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2001; 32:297-301. Interesting study showing that a 3-day course of albendazole is effective in Trichuris infections, and there is no benefit from adding praziquantel.
26. Bradley M, Horton J. Assessing the risk of benzimidazole therapy during pregnancy. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2001; 95:72-73. Review of global experience of albendazole exposure in first trimester of pregnancy. Includes considerable unpublished material from the company safety databases.
27. Gonzalez AH, Regalado VC, Van den Ende J. Non-invasive management of Ascaris lumbricoides biliary tact migration: A prospective study in 6g patients from Ecuador. Trop Med Int Health 2001; 6:146-150. Biliary tree invasion is a complication of Ascaris infection. This study suggests that conservative management with albendazole is effective in the majority of cases, and avoids the risk of surgery.
28. Khuroo MS. Hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis. Indian J Gastroenterol 2001; 20 (Suppl 1):C28-C32. A review of the diagnosis and management of hepatobiliary ascariasis, Anthelmithics are recommended, although some of the author's statements and conclusions on the benzimidazoles are inaccurate.
29. Mackrell PJ, Lee K, Garcia N, et al. Pancreatitis secondary to Ascaris lumbricoides infestation. Surgery 2001; 129:511-512. Pancreatitis is less common than biliary invasion, but is much more serious, and requires surgical removal of the parasite as in this case. Albendazole was used to clear the intestinal infection
30. Shad JA, Lee YR. Pancreatitis due to Ascaris lumbricoides: Second occurrence after 2 years. South Med J 2001; 94:78-80. Case report of recurrent invasion with treatment using ECRP. Albendazole was only used to clear intestinal infection.
31. Kawajiri M, Osoegawa M, Ohyagi Y, et al. A case of myelitis caused by visceral larva migrans due to Ascaris suum presenting only with Lhermitte's sign. Clin Neurol 2001; 41:310-313. Infection with Ascaris suum (pig roundworm) is rare, but can produce a visceral larva migrans syndrome: in this case, 6 weeks of albendazole were required to cure the patient.
32. Raccoon roundworm encephalitis: Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California, 2000. J Am Med Assoc 2002; 287:580-581. Baylisascaris is a rare condition in the USA which is resistant to treatment with albendazole.
33. Stephenson LS. Optimising the benefits of anthelmintic treatment in children. Paediatr Drugs 2001; 3:495-508. An authoritative review of data from many studies conducted in the past 20 years. It encapsulates much of the thinking about community intervention and the benefits, especially to women and young children.
34. Awasthi S, Pande VK. Six-monthly de-worming in infants to study effects on growth. Indian J Pediatr 2001; 68:823-827. This large study demonstrates the benefit of deworming on weight gain in children less than 5 years of age, with the more severely malnourished children benefiting the most. Since this and a previous study have shown strong positive effects, it is anticipated that larger studies may show reductions in infant mortality.
35. Jinabhai CC, Taylor M, Coutsoudis A, et al. Epidemiology of helminth infections: Implications for parasite control programmes, a South African perspective. Public Health Nutr 2001; 4:1211-1219. Although this paper concludes that there were no growth benefits, in general infections were light. There was, however, significant reduction in worm burden. It is unfortunate that this study did not use Kato-Katz stool tests, which would have enabled a more direct comparison with other work.
36. Guyatt HL, Brooker S, Kihamia CM, et al. Evaluation of efficacy of school-based anthelmintic treatments against anaemia in children in the United Republic of Tanzania. Bull World Health Organ 2001; 79:695-703. A huge study showing the impact of anthelminthic treatment on haemoglobin and anaemia in a school age community. It is an excellent paper and addresses cost benefit as well as more traditional approaches.
37. Dossa RA, Ategbo EA, de Koning FL, et al. Impact of iron supplementation and deworming on growth performance in preschool Beninese children. Eur J Clin Nutr 2001; 55:223-228. The relation of anthelminthic treatment to iron supplementation is suggested as beneficial. This study, however, shows no additional benefit on haemoglobin from the use of albendazole, although the 3-month supplementation regimen used may have hidden any effects produced by deworming. The absence of s significant level of hookworm infection may also have contributed.
38. Garrow SC, McCarthy JC, Thompson RC, et al. Hookworm control programs and anaemia. Med J Aust 2001; 175:442-443. This short paper demonstrates the importance of hookworm in the community and the benefits of deworming (in the presence of a presumed adequate diet) over a 6-year period.
39. Gilgen DD, Mascie-Taylor CG, Rosetta LL. Intestinal helminth infections, anaemia and labour productivity of female tea pluckers in Bangladesh. Trop Med Int Health 2001; 6:449-457. Well designed trial of albendazole in an at risk population and clear demonstration of the impact achievable by deworming. It also shows the need for the addition of iron in order to achieve increases in haemoglobin in relatively poorly nourished individuals.
40. Gilgen D, Mascie-Taylor CGN. The effect of an anthelminthic on helminth infection and anaemia. Parasitology 2001; 112:105-110. A sister paper concentrating on the iron related effects.
41. Sungthong R, Mo-Suwan L, Chongsuvivatwong V, Geater AF. Once weekly is superior to daily iron supplementation on height gain but not on hematological improvement among schoolchildren in Thailand. J Nutr 2002; 132:418-422. Although essentially an iron nutrition paper, these authors considered that a worm free environment would be beneficial, and all participants were treated with albendazole. The failure to show growth benefits may result from this.
42. Taylor M, Jinabhai CC, Couper I, et al. The effect of different anthelmintic treatment regimens combined with iron supplementation on the nutritional status of schoolchildren in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A randomized controlled trial. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2001; 95:211-216. A well controlled study that shows that while anthelminthics alone reduce geohelminth prevalence in the population, iron supplementation is needed to obtain a benefit in haemoglobin levels in areas of marginal nutrition. Interestingly, iron supplementation alone produced a negative impact.
43. Torlesse H, Hodges M. Albendazole therapy and reduced decline in haemoglobin concentration during pregnancy (Sierra Leone). Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2001; 95:195-201. Pregnancy is the time of maximal strain on iron stores. This study demonstrates the benefit of deworming as part of normal antenatal care alongside iron/folate supplementation in areas where hookworm anaemia is common.
44. Singh S. Human strongyloidiasis in AIDS era: Its zoonotic importance. J Assoc Physicians India 2002; 50:415-422. Useful review of the subject, highlighting the changing epidemiology in immune deficiency states.
45. Satoh M, Toma H, Sato Y, et al. Reduced efficacy of treatment of strongyloidiasis in HTLV-I carriers related to enhanced expression of IFN-gamma and TGF-beta1. Clin Exp Immunol 2002; 127:354-359. Although Strongyloides is widely recognized as a potential problem in HIV infected patients, this is the first study to examine the problem in a scientific manner in compromised hosts.
46. Jayshree RS, Sridhar H, Babu G, Suresh TM. Strongyloides stercoralis eggs in the stools during anticancer therapy. Indian J Gastroenterol 2001; 20:160-161. Emphasizes the risks of immunosuppressant treatment in patients with cancer and the need to consider anthelminthic treatment as part of the regimen.
47. Tsai HC, Lee SS, Liu YC, et al. Clinical manifestations of strongyloidiasis in southern Taiwan. J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2002; 35:29-36. More of interest in respect of the different manifestations of Strongyloides infection. The majority of cases were complex, with a high mortality. The risk factors for dissemination are discussed.
48. Ismail MM, Jayakody RL, Weil GJ, et al. Long-term efficacy of single-dose combinations of albendazole, ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine for the treatment of bancroftian filariasis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2001; 95:332-335. Reviews lymphatic filariasis and outcomes and also is a reference source for the earlier Sri Lankan data. One of a series of papers on the subject that should be read alongside material outside the scope of this review, but referenced in the paper.
49. Kamgno J, Boussinesq M. Effect of a single dose (600 mg) of albendazole on Loa loa microfilaraemia. Parasite 2002; 9:59-63. This study examines a possible route to reducing the risk of Evermectin treatment in Loa endemic areas. Although not very effective, albendazole treatment does reduce microfilaria levels to a significant degree.
50. Blum J, Wiestner A, Fuhr P, Hatz C. Encephalopathy following Loa loa treatment with albendazole. Acta Trop 2001; 78:63-65. Interesting case report, mainly with respect to the current debate over ivermectin central nervous system adverse events in heavy Loa infections. The report does not question whether the findings are indeed drug related, as there are several other explanations.
51. Green AD, Mason C, Spragg PM. Outbreak of cutaneous larva migrans among British military personnel in Belize. J Travel Med 2001; 8:267-269. A classic descriptive paper with excellent observation and conclusions drawn on the lesion distribution. Although brief, it is recommended reading for anyone interested in cutaneous larva migrans.
52. Albanese G, Venturi C, Galbiati G. Treatment of larva migrans cutanea (creeping eruption): A comparison between albendazole and traditional therapy. Int J Dermatol 2001; 40:67-71. Excellent, experienced based review of cutaneous larva migrans with both clinical and epidemiological data. Albendazole is seen as the treatment of choice for most cases.
53. Blackwell V, Vega-Lopez F. Cutaneous larva migrans: Clinical features and management of 44 cases presenting in the returning traveller. Br J Dermatol 2001; 145:434-437. Provides a similar review to Albanese et al. [52••] but with a different travelling population. There is a comparison of treatments and outcomes.
54. Caumes E, Ly F, Bricaire F. Cutaneous larva migrans with folliculitis: Report of seven cases and review of the literature. Br J Dermatol 2002; 146:31431-31436. Case reports of a complication of cutaneous larva migrans. It is proposed that this should be added to the routine description of cutaneous larva migrans. Treatment options based on this experience are discussed.
55. Nakamura-Uchiyama F, Yamasaki E, Nawa Y. One confirmed and six suspected cases of cutaneous larva migrans caused by overseas infection with dog hookworm larvae. J Dermatol 2002; 29:104-111. An interesting paper and descriptions of cases from southeast Asia. There are few papers on cutaneous larva migrans from southeast Asia, but it is probably more common than this suggests. Only one of the patients was treated with albendazole.
56. Park JW, Kwon SJ, Ryu JS, et al. Two imported cases of cutaneous larva migrans. Korean J Parasitol 2001; 39:77-81. Simple case reports with details of management.
57. Roest MA, Ratnavel R. Cutaneous larva migrans contracted in England: A reminder. Clin Exp Dermatol 2001; 26:389-390. A single case report with a review of the literature.
58. Prudhomme L, Loche F, Massip P, Marchou B. Cutaneous larva migrans failure of single dose ivermectin [in French]. Med Mal Infect 2002; 32:115-116. Reports failure of ivermectin treatment in a single dose. There is a discussion of alternative treatments.
59. Barisani-Asenbauer T, Maca SM, Hauff W, et al. Treatment of ocular toxocariasis with albendazole. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2001; 17:287-294. Uveitis is an uncommon complication of toxocara infection, and this is only the second series of cases to be published showing the benefit of albendazole treatment.
60. Pawlowski Z. Toxocariasis in humans: Clinical expression and treatment dilemma. J Helminthol 2001; 75:299-305. A good review of diagnostic criteria and treatment options accompanied by a comprehensive bibliography.
61. Chandenier J, Husson J, Canaple S, et al. Medullary gnathostomiasis in a white patient: Use of immunodiagnosis and magnetic resonance imaging. Clin Infect Dis 2001; 32:E154-E157. This case report highlights the dangerous nature of gnathostome infection: while albendazole was effective, the patient remained with a neurological deficit.
62. Chappuis F, Farinelli T, Loutan L. Ivermectin treatment of a traveler who returned from Peru with cutaneous gnathostomiasis. Clin Infect Dis 2001; 33:E17-E19. A case report of an albendazole failure that was successfully treated with ivermectin. Ivermectin has not been shown previously to be effective in human infections, and since the treatment was almost concurrent with albendazole, it is possible that the patient was already cured.
63. Wilde H, Suankratay C, Thongkam C, et al. Human gongylonema infection in Southeast Asia. J Travel Med 2001; 8:204-206. First case of successful albendazole treatment. Since the worms are normally superficial, surgery is the treatment of choice. There is a detailed bibliography of a rare condition.
64. Wilson ME, Lorente CA, Allen JE, Eberhard ML. Gongylonema infection of the mouth in a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Clin Infect Dis 2001; 32:1378-1380. Surgery was the treatment of choice in this case, and albendazole was given postoperatively.
65. Storey PA, Faile G, Crawley D, et al. Ultrasound appearance of preclinical Oesophagostomum bifurcum induced colonic pathology. Gut 2001; 46:565-566. The experts in this unusual disease present a description of a case and the associated ultrasound findings.
66. Storey PA, Bugri S, Magnussen P, Polderman AM. The effect of albendazole on Oesophagostomum bifurcum infection and pathology in children from rural northern Ghana. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2001; 95:87-95. The authors and their associates have been investigating Oesophagostomum infection in Northern Ghana and Togo for many years. This paper discusses the outcome of albendazole treatment in children and indicates that it is highly effective both in acute pathology and in reducing egg loads. The bibliography provides the source of most previous papers by the group.
67. Bruschi F, Murrell KD. New aspects of human trichinellosis; the impact of new trichinella species. Postgrad Med J 2002; 78:15-22. Extensive parasitological, epidemiological and clinical review. These are excellent sections, but the paper is lacking in depth when it come to treatment where several key references are ignored.
68. Dziekonska-Rynko J, Rokicki J, Jablonowski Z. Effects of ivermectin and albendazole against anisakis simplex in vitro and in guinea pigs. J Parasitol 2002; 88:395-398. Both albendazole and ivermectin are effective against Anisakis in vitro, but are less so in experimental infections. Given that the systemically active moiety of albendazole is the sulphoxide, it should have been used instead.
69. Garcia-Llamazares JL, Merino-Pelaez G, Larrode-Pellicer O, et al. Pharmaco-kinetics of netobimin and microsomal metabolism of albendazole in infected gerbils with Echinococcus granulosus. Parasitol Res 2001; 87:107-111. The gerbil is a recognized model for the investigation of echinococcosis, but pharmacological data for albendazole and its metabolites have thus far not been described. Advances in methodology have permitted albendazole kinetics to be described for normal and infected animals.
70. Stettler M, Siles-Lucas M, Sarciron E, et al. Echinococcus multilocularis alkaline phosphatase as a marker for metacestode damage induced by in vitro drug treatment with albendazole sulfoxide and albendazole sulfone. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2001; 45:2256-2262. Parasite alkaline phosphatase is identified as a useful marker that could be used as a screen for cestodicidal activity of new drugs in vitro before proceeding to in-vivo studies. This study also raises the question as to the source of alkaline phosphatase often encountered during effective treatment of echinococcosis.
71. Moreno MJ, Urrea-Paris MA, Casado N, Rodriguez-Caabeiro F. Praziquantel and albendazole in the combined treatment of experimental hydatid disease. Parasitol Res 2001; 87:235-238. Prophylactic efficacy was obtained with the combination in experimental mouse infections, although no benefit over untreated controls was obtained in established 4-month infections. It is assumed from the figures that this is E. granulosus infection, although it is stated nowhere by the authors.
72. Casado N, Urrea-Paris MA, Moreno MJ, Rodriguez-Caabeiro F. Combined praziquantel and albendazole chemoprophylaxis in experimental hydatidosis. Parasitol Res 2001; 87:787-789. These experimental data suggest that combination with praziquantel may be better than albendazole alone. In this situation, it was possible to retain efficacy with reduction of treatment duration.
73. Casado N, Moreno MJ, Urrea-Paris MA, Rodriguez-Caabeiro F. Could ivermectin have a synergic effect with albendazole in hydatidosis therapy? Parasitol Res 2002; 88:153-159. Ivermectin has never been considered in clinical treatment. This experimental study, however, suggests that combination treatment should be seriously considered due to the dramatic in-vitro effects on cyst viability.
74. Saimot AG. Medical treatment of liver hydatidosis. World J Surg 2001; 25:15-20. Essentially a review of reviews from an acknowledged expert. There is a good critical discussion of past results and the author proposes some potential for future work. The major problem with work thus far is the low number of cases in each centre, limiting clinical studies.
75. Keshmiri M, Baharvahdat H, Fattahi SH, et al. Albendazole versus placebo in treatment of echinococcosis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2001; 95:190-194. The only recent placebo controlled study that attempts to answer the question 'do cysts spontaneously resolve?' Their conclusion, based on trial experience is a resounding 'no'.
76. Anadol D, Ozcelik U, Kiper N, Gocmen A. Treatment of hydatid disease. Paediatr Drugs 2001; 3:123-135. Detailed review of chemotherapy and PAIR. Contains some interesting observations on Echinococcus granulosus epidemiology in Turkey that have not previously been available.
77. Aygun E, Sahin M, Odev K, et al. The management of liver hydatid cysts by percutaneous drainage. Can J Surg 2001; 44:203-209. PAIR is becoming an important procedure in the management of cystic echinococcosis. This review examines the indications for PAIR, and the place of albendazole in overall management.
78. Maiocchi L, Brunetti E, Filice C, et al. Hydatid liver cyst treatment (2): Multiple cysts. J Ultrasound Med 2001; 20:1377-1379. This short paper raises issues related to PAIR approaches to treatment of cystic disease, especially with regard to multiple cysts.
79. Senyuz OF, Yesildag E, Celayir S. Albendazole therapy in the treatment of hydatid liver disease. Surg Today 2001; 31:487-491. Excellent and balanced review by surgeons of the roles of surgery and medical therapy, based on their own experience. It provides a useful algorithm to determine appropriate therapy.
80. Sielaff TD, Taylor B, Langer B. Recurrence of hydatid disease. World J Surg 2001; 25:83-86. A surgeon's view of hydatid with an appraisal of techniques. It recognizes that no method is ideal and proposes some limits on use of surgery, chemotherapy and PAIR, and which might be most appropriate to use.
81. Pamir MN, Ozduman K, Elamaci I. Spinal hydatid disease. Spinal Cord 2002; 40:153-160. A comprehensive review of spinal hydatid disease management, with an examination of the published literature, surgical procedures and the place of albendazole in treatment of this debilitating condition.
82. Martinez AA, Herrera A, Cuenca J, Herrero L. Hydatidosis of the pelvis and hip. Int Orthop 2001; 25:302-304. A paper covering a small series of pelvic girdle cystic echinococcus infection. While surgery is necessary in many cases, albendazole therapy is also needed to ensure clearance of remaining material. Outcomes are not generally good in the longer term.
83. Demirbilek S, Sander S, Atayurt HF, Aydin G. Hydatid disease of the liver in childhood: The success of medical therapy and surgical alternatives. Pediatr Surg Int 2001; 17:373-377. This paper discusses the benefits of medical versus surgical treatment, and is largely based on local experience.
84. Acar T, Tacyildiz R, Tuncal S. Isolated hydatic cyst in the subcutaneous tissue. Turk J Med Sci 2001;31:575-576. Case report of an unusual presentation. Discussion of treatment and pathology.
85. Ahuja SR, Karande S, Koteyar SR, Kulkarni MV. Hepatic hydatid cyst rupturing into sub-diaphragmatic space and pericardial cavity. J Postgrad Med 2001; 47:37-39. Case report and discussion of complications and management following cyst rupture.
86. Birincioglu CL, Tarcan O, Nisanoglu V, et al. Is it cardiac tumor or echinococcosis? Tex Heart Inst J 2001; 28:230-231. Cardiac echinococcosis is an uncommon presentation. This interesting case report highlights some of the diagnostic problems and discusses treatment.
87. Costanzi A, Fioravanti G, Azzimonti G, Pellio T. Treatment of four cases of Echinococcus cysts of the liver, pancreas and kidney at rural hospital level. Trop Doct 2001; 31:231-232. Although these are surgical cases, this paper highlights the inclusion of albendazole as pre-intervention prophylaxis and after surgery to prevent recurrence.
88. Dede S, Dede H, Caliskan E, Demir B. Recurrent pelvic hydatid cyst obstructing labor, with a concomitant hepatic primary: A case report. J Reprod Med Obstet Gynecol 2002; 47:164-166. A case report that highlights the dilemmas of treatment in pregnancy. In this case surgery and chemotherapy followed delivery.
89. Gharaibeh KI. Laparoscopic excision of splenic hydatid cyst. Postgrad Med J 2001; 77:195-196. Minimally invasive surgery is also a developing technique for the management of accessible cysts. It emphasizes the need for albendazole after any surgical intervention.
90. Gluncic I, Roje Z, Bradaric N, et al. Primary echinococcosis of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Croat Med J 2001; 42:196-198. Case report of presurgical albendazole and then surgery.
91. Guney O, Acar O, Kocaogullar Y. Echinococcus infestation of the splenius capitis. Br J Neurosurg 2001; 15:74-75. Case report of surgery with associated albendazole to prevent recurrence.
92. Narayan R, Mathew JT, Shetty PK. Cardiac echinococcosis. J Assoc Physicians India 2001; 49:292. Reports the management of a case of cardiac involvement in which albendazole was used alone to achieve a resolution of disease.
93. Ozyazicioglu A, Kocak H, Ceviz M, Balci AY. Surgical treatment of echinococcal cysts of the heart: Report of 3 cases. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2002; 10:66-68. Surgery is the treatment of choice for cardiac echinococcosis. Three cases are described in which albendazole was used as follow on therapy.
94. Poyanli A, Akan K, Poyanli O, et al. Primary hydatid disease of the femur: Unsuspected and incidental MRI findings with long-term curative results on medical treatment alone. Skeletal Radiol 2001; 30:656-658. Successful chemotherapy is reported with albendazole. It is emphasized that treatment must be long term to ensure cure.
95. Ramachandran CS, Goel D, Arora V. Laparoscopic surgery in hepatic hydatid cysts: A technical improvement. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 2001; 11:14-18. Preoperative use of albendazole before laparoscopic drainage.
96. Redington AE, Russell SG, Ladhani S, et al. Pulmonary echinococcosis with chest wall involvement in a patient with no apparent risk factors. J Infect 2001; 42:285-288. Case and discussion of use of albendazole in high-risk surgical cases.
97. Saez J, Pinto P, Apt W, Zulantay I. Cystic echinococcosis of the tongue leading to diagnosis of multiple localizations. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2001; 65:338-340. Case report of a very young patient in whom a cyst led to the identification of others at distant locations. It is especially important to look at the liver as a site in such cases.
98. Telli HH, Durgut K, Temizhan A, Gormus N. Ruptured cardiac hydatid cyst masquerading as acute coronary syndrome: Report of a case. Surg Today 2001; 31:908-911. An interesting case history and presentation of a cyst as acute coronary disease following cyst rupture. Combined surgery and albendazole used.
99. Srour SF, Sayfan J. Echinococcosis of the spleen during pregnancy. Isr Med Assoc J 2001; 3:290-291. A case description and discussion of management.
100. Unsal A, Cimentepe E, Dilmen G, et al. An unusual cause of renal colic: Hydatiduria. Int J Urol 2001; 8:319-321. Uncommon presentation of hydatid disease: case report and management.
101. Marques MP, Takayanagui OM, Lanchote VL. Albendazole metabolism in patients with neurocysticercosis: Antipyrine as a multifunctional marker drug of cytochrome P450. Braz J Med Biol Res 2002; 35:26126-26129. These authors continue their investigations of albendazole metabolism in patients and use antipyrine to suggest that CYP1A2 is the isozyme responsible for conversion of sulphoxide (active) to sulphone (inactive).
102. Garg RK. Medical management of neurocysticercosis. Neurol India 2001; 49:329-337. A critical review of existing data by a recognized expert. Well written and useful to anyone requiring a grounding in the therapeutic options in cysticercosis and the controversies surrounding them.
103. Del Brutto OH, Rajshekhar V, White Jr AC, et al. Proposed diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis. Neurology 2001; 57:177-183. A much needed paper reporting a panel workshop on diagnostic criteria. It must be read to appreciate the expertise of the authors and the importance of this report to neurologists and others working in endemic areas. It is known that a further paper is in preparation that continues the discussion into the application of treatment based on these criteria.
104. Proano JV, Madrazo I, Avelar F, et al. Medical treatment for neurocysticercosis characterized by giant subarachnoid cysts. N Engl J Med 2001; 345:879-885. Giant cysticercal cysts of the brain are uncommon, but they are recognized as difficult to treat. It is therefore especially important that the authors have put together a series of 33 patients with which to demonstrate the problems, but also the successes of albendazole (±praziquantel) treatment, thus avoiding extensive and risky cerebral surgery.
105. Anandh B, Mohanty A, Sampath S, et al. Endoscopic approach to intraventricular cysticercal lesions. Minim Invasive Neurosurg 2001; 44:194-196. Surgery using minimally invasive techniques can now be undertaken. A method is described for an individual case - as is the case with echinococcosis, albendazole was used as postoperative follow up.
106. Baranwal AK, Singhi PD, Singhi SC, Khandelwal N. Seizure recurrence in children with focal seizures and single small enhancing computed tomographic lesions: Prognostic factors on long-term follow-up. J Child Neurol 2001; 16:443-445. This interesting paper investigates the outcome of a series of patients compared with placebo treatment of small enhancing lesions. Albendazole was shown to be beneficial in reducing the duration of antiepileptic treatment.
107. Singhi PD, Baranwal AK. Single small enhancing computed tomographic lesions in Indian children. II: Clinical features, pathology, radiology and management. J Trop Pediatr 2001; 47:266-270. Single small enhancing computed tomography lesions and their treatment are an area of considerable controversy. This second paper (the first examined the controversies) discusses clinical features, investigation and management. The role of albendazole is discussed, and how it may help to reduce seizure rates and the duration of antiepileptic treatment.
108. Thussu A, Arora A, Lal V, et al. Albendazole therapy for solitary persistent cysticercus granuloma. Neurol India 2001; 49:95-97. An uncontrolled study of single small enhancing computed tomography lesions in a group of Indian children who had failed to show improvement or resolution of cysts 6 months or more after initial diagnosis. Albendazole produced improvement or resolution in 64% of cases treated.
109. Bajaj MS, Pushker N. Optic nerve cysticercosis. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol 2002; 30:140-143. Optic nerve cysticercosis is an unusual presentation, and albendazole was used as chemotherapy. The existing world literature is reviewed.
110. Gulliani BP, Dadeya S, Malik KP, Jain DC. Bilateral cysticercosis of the optic nerve. J Neuroophthalmol 2001; 21:217-218. Case report of optic nerve cysticercosis and its management. This paper is not included in the literature review by Bajaj and Pushker [109•].
111. Cicalini S, Escriba D, Francavilla R, De Rosa FG. Neurocysticercosis: An unusual presentation of a rare disease. J Neurol 2001; 248:139-140. Case report of a patient with cysticercosis admitted in a coma. Management is discussed.
112. Burneo JG. Neurocysticercosis: An unusual presentation of a rare disease. J Neurol 2002; 249:226. Comment on Cicalini paper [111•]. The authors question the cause of the coma.
113. Kobayashi E, Guerreiro CA, Cendes F. Late onset temporal lobe epilepsy with MRI evidence of mesial temporal sclerosis following acute neurocysticercosis: Case report. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2001; 59:255-258. Detailed case report with sequential magnetic resonance imaging data demonstrating the impact of treatment. Post treatment seizures remain a problem.
114. Lombardo J. Subretinal cysticercosis. Optom Vis Sci 2001; 78:188-194. A case report. This presentation of cysticercosis provides considerable diagnostic dilemmas. The paper is particularly useful for a discussion of differential diagnosis and epidemiology.
115. Natarajan A, Rameshkumar K, d'Souza RE. Cysticercosis masquerading as a salivary gland neoplasm. Trop Doct 2002; 32:120-121. Case report of an unusual presentation of cysticercosis and successful treatment with albendazole.
116. Pandey PK, Chaudhuri Z, Bhatia A. Extraocular muscle cysticercosis presenting as Brown syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 2001; 131:526-527. Case report of ocular muscle cysticercosis with successful medical treatment. Provides a good description of Brown's syndrome.
117. Rajshekhar V. Cerebral cysticercus granuloma associated with a subdural effusion. Neurol India 2001; 49:182-184. Case report of sudden onset subdural effusion in a previously diagnosed (but oligosymptomatic) patient. Symptoms were produced by sudden degeneration of one cyst. The case was managed conservatively with albendazole and antiepileptics.
118. Leitch GJ, Scanlon M, Shaw A, Visvesvara GS. Role of P glycoprotein in the course and treatment of Encephalitozoon microsporidiosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2001; 45:73-78. An interesting experimental study that suggests that p-glycoprotein pumps are important in protecting parasites from drugs. The suggestion that chemosensitizers might be used in encephalitozoon species seems somewhat misplaced given the efficacy of albendazole against these species. It could be of benefit, however, in E. bieneusi.
119. Gajdatsy AD, Tay-Kearney ML. Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis after HAART. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2001; 29:32732-32739. Microsporidiosis is an increasingly common complication of HIV infection. In this case, microsporidial infection (unfortunately species is not identified) was successfully treated with albendazole for 2 weeks. The authors suggest that patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) should be considered for albendazole prophylaxis to prevent such complications.
120. Goetz M, Eichenlaub S, Pape GR, Hoffmann RM. Chronic diarrhea as a result of intestinal microsporidiosis in a liver transplant recipient. Transplantation 2001; 71:334-337. While Enterocytozoon bieneusi is usually encountered in HIV patients, this paper highlights the fact that others may also be affected. In this patient, as with HIV cases previously reported, the symptoms were alleviated but the infection was not eradicated.
121. Latib MA, Pascoe MD, Duffield MS, Kahn D. Microsporidiosis in the graft of a renal transplant recipient. Transpl Int 2001; 14:274-277. A case of Encephalitozoon intestinalis infection in a renal transplant patient. Albendazole effectively eradicated the infection in the renal graft, demonstrating the established efficacy of albendazole against this microsporidian parasite.
122. Weitzel T, Wolff M, Dabanch J, et al. Dual microsporidial infection with Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in an HIV-positive patient. Infection 2001; 29:237-239. Complicated case with two different microsporidian parasites. Treatment and outcome serve to demonstrate the differing sensitivities of species to albendazole: an Encephalitozoon cuniculi pulmonary infection was cured, while the Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection continued until the patient's death.
123. Theng J, Chan C, Ling ML, Tan D. Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in a healthy contact lens wearer without human immunodeficiency virus infection. Ophthalmology 2001; 108:976-978. A case of ocular infection in an immunocompetent individual. The infection was cured with albendazole, but the case serves as a warning that microsporial infection can occur in normal individuals.
124. Zulu I, Veitch A, Sianongo S, et al. Albendazole chemotherapy for AIDS-related diarrhoea in Zambia - Clinical, parasitological and mucosal responses. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2002; 16:595-601. Important paper which documents the changes and the impact of treatment in patients with AIDS in Africa. It recognizes the complex nature of AIDS related diarrhoea, and the benefits of treatment.
125. Pourgholami MH, Woon L, Almajd R, et al. In vitro and in vivo
126. Davis PD, Thomson P, Naylor MA, et al. Benzimidazole carbamates: A new structural class of vascular targeting agents [abstract]. Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res Annual Meeting 2001; 4:371.
127. Morris DL, Jourdan JL, Pourgholami MH. Pilot study of albendazole in patients with advanced malignancy: Effect on serum tumor markers/high incidence of neutropenia. Oncology 2001; 61:42-46. Interesting paper proposing with clinical data and the use of tumour markers that albendazole may have antitumour effects. This is presumed to be due to the inhibition of tubulin polymerase that would be greatest in tissues such as tumours that have high cell turnover.
128. Elias D, Wolday D, Akuffo H, et al. Effect of deworming on human T cell responses to mycobacterial antigens in helminth-exposed individuals before and after bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination. Clin Exp Immunol 2001; 123:219-225. Very important paper which proposes, based on clinical trial data, one possible explanation for BCG protection failures. A prospective design with albendazole treatment of helminth infection was used. Increases in PPD responsiveness in BCG responders and to PPD in BCG failures after revaccination were documented after deworming with albendazole, but not after placebo.
129. Cooper PJ, Chico M, Sandoval C, et al. Human infection with Ascaris lumbricoides is associated with suppression of the interleukin-2 response to recombinant cholera toxin B subunit following vaccination with the live oral cholera vaccine CVD 103-HgR. Infect Immun 2001; 69:1574-1580. The clinical and antibody findings have been published previously, and this paper further investigates the underlying cytokine responses in more detail. The findings are consistent with a T helper-1 response which has been suppressed by Ascaris infection.