[Albendazole for the treatment of hepatic and intra-abdominal hydatidosis]

Albendazole, in doses of 10mg/kg/day for 28 days with 14 days rest periods between series and series, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum 6 series was administered to 16 patients, 13 women and 3 men, with hepatic and/or of the abdominal cavity hidatid cystes. Clinical, immunological and ultrasonographic criterion were used to evaluate the response, obtaining the following results: complete cure in 6 patients (37.5%), improvement in 7 patients (43.7%) and without change in 3 (18.7%). Drug was tolerated, occurring only one case of reversible total alopecia. There were not abnormalities in liver and renal function tests or in the haematological indices. As conclusion, Albendazole is a good therapeutic alternative in cases of inoperable or multiple hydatid cysts.