Albendazole vs praziquantel for therapy for neurocysticercosis. A controlled trial

Arch Neurol. 1988 May;45(5):532-4. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1988.00520290064015.

Abstract

Praziquantel and albendazole have been recently described as effective drugs for treating cysticercosis of the brain. In this study, effectiveness of each drug for therapy for parenchymal brain cysticercosis was compared. Twenty patients were treated either with albendazole or with praziquantel; in addition, five patients were taken as controls and treated only with symptomatic drugs. Three months after therapy, results showed that both drugs, albendazole and praziquantel, were highly effective, as seen by the disappearance of cystic lesions in computed tomographic scans. All lesions in control patients remained unchanged. Albendazole, when compared with praziquantel, showed a 76% vs 73% disappearance of lesions, respectively. It was concluded that both drugs have similar equivalent efficacy and greatly improve the therapeutics of cysticercosis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Albendazole
  • Benzimidazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Cysticercosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Cysticercosis / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Benzimidazoles
  • Praziquantel
  • Albendazole