Combined albendazole and praziquantel versus albendazole alone in the treatment of hydatid disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different regimens of medical treatment in hydatid disease at the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh.

METHODOLOGY

Between April 1985 and August 1990 albendazole was used alone in the treatment of 22 patients with hydatid disease, mainly of the liver. Since September 1990, we have used a combination treatment of albendazole and praziquantel in 19 patients.

RESULTS

For those patients treated only with albendazole, 8 patients (36.4%) showed a complete disappearance of the cyst, in 4 of which the treatment period ranged between 6 months to 2 years. The other 4 patients had ruptured liver cyst into biliary tree and had endoscopic treatment with complete recovery over a short period. For those patients treated with albendazole and praziquantel the following results were found. During a follow-up period of 2 months to 3 years and a treatment period of only 2-6 months there was complete disappearance of the hydatid cyst in 9 patients (47.4%) and over 50% reduction of the hydatid cyst in 5 patients (36.84%).

CONCLUSION

Combination treatment with albendazole and praziquantel for hydatid disease is more effective than albendazole alone.