Comparative Evaluation of Liposomal Albendazole and Tablet-Albendazole Against Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis: A Non-Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of liposomal albendazole (L-ABZ) and tablet-albendazole (T-ABZ) for the treatment of human hepatic cystic echinococcosis (CE). Sixty patients with single cyst (CE1) or daughter cyst (CE2) were included in this study and were nonrandomly divided into the L-ABZ group (n = 30, 10 mg/kg per day, p.o., b.i.d.) and T-ABZ group (n = 30, 12-20 mg/kg per day, p.o., b.i.d.), respectively. The treatment duration lasted for 6 months, during which dynamic follow-up was carried out to evaluate the clinical efficacy through calculating the total effective rates (TERs). Measurement data and numerous data were analyzed by the chi-square test. Two-sided tests were performed for all the statistical tests. In our study, 2 patients were lost in the follow-up in the L-ABZ group. One patient was lost in the follow-up in the T-ABZ group, and 1 patient was withdrawal from the study due to receiving surgery. Significant difference was identified in the 3-month TERs of L-ABZ group and T-ABZ group (33.3% vs 76.7%, P < 0.05). Also, remarkable difference was noted in the 6-month TERs in the L-ABZ group and T-ABZ group (66.7% vs 93.3%, P = 0.01). No statistical difference was noticed in the incidence rate of adverse reactions in both groups (P > 0.05). Based on our study, both T-ABZ and L-ABZ are effective for treating human CE. The TER in the L-ABZ group is superior to that of T-ABZ.

FIGURE 1

Flowchart. Number of subjects assessed for eligibility, enrolled, and nonrandomized to study medicine liposomal albendazole or tablet-albendazloe. Subjects were included in step-wise fashion with 30 subjects in each group.

FIGURE 2

Ultrasound images of the CE lesions obtained from the baseline period (1A), 3 months (1B), and 6 months (1C) after administration of L-ABZ, respectively. The results indicated that complete response was noted at 6 months after administration of L-ABZ. CE = cystic echinococcosis, L-ABZ = liposomal albendazole.

FIGURE 3

Ultrasound images of the CE lesions obtained from the baseline period (2A), 3 months (2B), and 6 months (2C) after administration of T-ABZ, respectively. The results indicated that after administration of T-ABZ was effective for treating CE. CE = cystic echinococcosis, T-ABZ = tablet-albendazole.