Albendazole therapy for neurocysticercosis

Seven patients with chronic parenchymal brain cysticercosis were treated with albendazole for one month at daily doses of 15 mg/kg of body weight. Computed tomographic follow-up studies were made at the following times: a mean of 16 months before the trial; the beginning of treatment; the end of treatment; and three months afterward. Computed tomographic studies at the beginning of treatment showed a total of 157 cysts, the last day of treatment the number had decreased to 39 cysts, and three months later, the total number of lesions was 22; this represents 86% improvement in the number of cystic lesions. Control studies in the same group of patients had shown chronic persistence of lesions without spontaneous improvement in most cases. Two patients had been treated with praziquantel previously with partial response; in both cases albendazole therapy was effective with 100% and 77% improvement. We conclude that albendazole is highly effective for the treatment of parenchymal brain cysticercosis. It is also effective in patients who had shown poor therapeutic response to praziquantel.