Albendazole trial at 15 or 30 mg/kg/day for subarachnoid and intraventricular cysticercosis.

Author(s): Gongora-Rivera F, Soto-Hernandez JL, Gonzalez Esquivel D, Cook HJ, Marquez-Caraveo C, Hernandez Davila R, Santos-Zambrano J

Affiliation(s): Department of Neurology, Instituto Nacional de Neurologia y Neurocirugia Manuel Velasco Suarez, Mexico City, Mexico.

Publication date & source: 2006-02-14, Neurology., 66(3):436-8. Epub 2005 Dec 28.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

Thirty-six patients with subarachnoid and intraventricular cysticercosis were randomly assigned to receive albendazole at 15 or 30 mg/kg/day plus dexamethasone for 8 days. Results favored a higher dose, with larger cyst reduction on MRI at 90 and 180 days and higher albendazole sulfoxide levels in plasma. An albendazole course at 30 mg/kg/day combined with corticosteroids is safe and more effective than the usual dose. A single treatment was insufficient in intraventricular and giant cysts.