The role of albendazole in programmes to eliminate lymphatic filariasis

Citing earlier advances in the treatment of lymphatic filariasis [particula rly the effcectiveness of single-dose diethylcarbamazine (DEC) in reducing microfilaraemia and its enhanced effectiveness when co-administered with si ngle-dose ivermectin], Eric Ottesen; Mahroof Ismail and John Horton conside r recent studies on the antifilarial activity of albendazole that have led to the current recommendations for ifs use in single-dose regimens in conju nction with either DEC or ivermectin for large-scale control/elimination pr ogrammes. Furthermore, the potential of albendazole as a macrofilaricide fo r treating individual patients with lymphatic filarial infections is emphas ized as one of a number of important research questions that remain to be e xplored.