Albendazole in hydatid disease: Results in 22 patients

Abstract

A prospective study to evaluate the effect of albendazole in the treatment of echinococcus granulosus was conducted at the Gastroenterology Unit, Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh since April 1985 to present involving 22 patients mainly with liver hydatid disease. Of these patients, 30% had a previous history of surgery for recurrence of previously operated hydatid cysts. The duration treatment and follow up period ranged from two months to three years. The only side effect was hair loss in two patients which was fully reversible on the termination of treatment. The following results were achieved: Radiological disappearance of the liver cysts were achieved in eight patients. Four of eight patients were treated only with albendazole and the other four patients with rupture liver cysts to the biliary tree were treated with a combination of non-surgical endoscopic method, hypertonic saline irrigation and albendazole. In the remaining 14 patients, 5 (22.72%) had a 30% to 60% reduction in cyst size. Intracystic change was noted in five patients (22.72%), in two patients the cyst ruptured and there was no change in the cyst size in two patients (9.9%). This study demonstrate that albendazole is a promising drug for the treatment of hydatid disease.