COMBINED ALBENDAZOLE AND PRAZIQUANTEL VERSUS ALBENDAZOLE ALONE IN THETREATMENT OF HYDATID-DISEASE

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of di fferent regimens of medical treatment in hydatid disease at the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh. METHODOLOGY: Between April 1985 and August 19 90 albendazole was used alone in the treatment of 22 patients with hyd atid 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 patient s (36.4%) showed a complete disappearance of the cyst, in 4 of which t he treatment period ranged between 6 months to 2 years. The other 4 pa tients had ruptured liver cyst into biliary tree and had endoscopic tr eatment 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 treatmen t period of only 2-6 months there was complete disappearance of the hy datid cyst in 9 patients (47.4%) and over 50% reduction of the hydatid cyst in 5 patients (36.84%). CONCLUSION: Combination treatment with a lbendazole and praziquantel for hydatid disease is more effective than albendazole alone.