[Spinal hydatidosis treated by albendazole. A propos of 2 cases]

Two patients with hydatid cysts of the spine were given albendazole. One patient had previously been treated by surgery followed by flubendazole. Albendazole was well tolerated in both cases. Follow-up evaluations included clinical, roentgenological, serological and, in one case, histological investigations. Albendazole sulfoxide levels were assayed in plasma samples from one patient and in non-diseased bone in the other. The treatment seems to have been effective in both patients, suggesting that albendazole may be of value in hydatid disease of the bone. Confirmatory evidence from a larger series is needed.