Echinococcosis Hydatid Cyst Medication

Updated: Dec 05, 2018
  • Author: Enrico Brunetti, MD; Chief Editor: Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MBBS, MD  more...
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Medication

Medication Summary

Albendazole and mebendazole are the only anthelmintics effective against cystic echinococcosis. Albendazole is the drug of choice against this disease because its degree of systemic absorption and penetration into hydatid cysts is superior to that of mebendazole. Albendazole in combination with percutaneous aspiration or PAIR therapy can lead to a reduction in cyst size, and, in one study, it improved efficacy over albendazole alone against hepatic hydatid cysts. [42] When surgery cannot be avoided, presurgical use of albendazole in echinococcus infestations reduced risk of recurrence and/or facilitated surgery by reducing intracystic pressure.

Treatment of echinococcosis for patients weighing more than 60 kg is albendazole administered PO with meals in a dose of 400 mg twice daily for 28 days. A dose of 15 mg/kg of body weight daily in 2 divided doses (not to exceed total daily dose of 800 mg) has been suggested for patients weighing less than 60 kg. For cystic echinococcosis, the 28-day course may be repeated after 14 days without treatment to a total of 3 treatment cycles.

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Anthelmintics

Class Summary

Parasite biochemical pathways are sufficiently different from the human host to allow selective interference by chemotherapeutic agents in relatively small doses.

Albendazole (Albenza)

Decreases ATP production in worm, causing energy depletion, immobilization, and, finally, death. To avoid inflammatory response in CNS, patient must also take anticonvulsants and high-dose glucocorticoids.

Mebendazole (Vermox)

Causes worm death by selectively and irreversibly blocking uptake of glucose and other nutrients in susceptible adult intestine where helminths dwell.

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