Comparison of 1 week versus 4 weeks of albendazole therapy in single small enhancing computed tomography lesion

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The appropriate duration of albendazole therapy in neurocysticercosis is uncertain. The observation in small uncontrolled randomized trials in children that short-course therapy (1 week) is as effective as the conventional regimen (4weeks) must be tested. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of 1 and 4 weeks of albendazole therapy in children with single small enhancing computed tomographic lesion (SSECTL). STUDY DESIGN: An open-labeled, randomized, clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty children with SSECTLs presenting with seizure. INTERVENTION: The subjects were assigned to two groups using random tables: group A (n=58) received albendazole for 1 week and group B (n=62) for 4 weeks. All the subjects were followed up for 6 months. RESULTS: The proportions of subjects with complete resolution of lesion in the two groups were similar (group A 63.8% versus group B 51.6%). The proportion of subjects in the two groups in whom the lesion calcified on follow up (group A 19% versus group B 24.2%) also did not differ significantly. The incidence of seizure recurrence during the 6-month follow-up period was also similar in both the groups (group A 9.6% versus group B 3.4%, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: One week of albendazole therapy is as effective as 4 weeks of therapy in children with SSECTLs.