Cerebral cysticercosis is the most common worldwide parasitic infection of the central nervous system. Intraventricular involvement is apparent in 15% to 28.8% of cases with neural compartment infestation.' Although different forms of the disease (parenchymatous, subarachnoid, and mixed form ) have been treated successfully with chemotherapy, direct surgical excision of simple cystic lesions appears to be an adequate primary therapeutic strategy in the majority of intraventricular forms. In recent years, however, some authors have advocated the use of anthelmintic treatment in all cases of intraventricular cysts so that surgical procedures of the posterior fossa and their potential complications can be avoided. The strict definition for managing the spectrum of intraventricular infestation remains controversial. We present our experience in the treatment of a patient with primary isolated intraventricular cysticercosis.
Albendazole ; therapeutic use ; Anthelmintics ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Neurocysticercosis ; therapy ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) represents the most common tropically acquired dermatosis. CLM is caused by infection with hookworm larvae in tropical and sub-tropical areas, and people who have a history of foreign travel and of walking barefoot on sandy soil or beaches are at a high risk of getting infected with it. The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the typical appearance of the lesion, intense itching and history of foreign travel. CLM is a common parasitic skin disease that can be easily prevented by wearing 'protective' footwear. A case of CLM is described in this article.
Adult ; Albendazole ; therapeutic use ; Antinematodal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Argentina ; Brazil ; Female ; Humans ; Larva Migrans ; Travel

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by infection with Echinococcus species. As the drug of first choice for treatment of echinococcosis, albendazole suffers from problems of large doses and remarkable adverse reactions in clinical therapy. Development of novel drugs against echinococcosis is of urgent need. Recently, great advances have been achieved in the research on traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of echinococcosis. This review summarizes the progress of researches on traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of echinococcosis, aiming to provide insights into development of anti-echinococcosis drugs.
Animals ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Echinococcosis/parasitology* ; Albendazole/therapeutic use* ; Zoonoses ; Echinococcus multilocularis

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a rare serpiginous cutaneous eruption caused by accidental penetration and migration in the skin with infective larvae of nematode that normally do not have the human as their host. Although CLM has a worldwide distribution, the infection is most frequent in warmer climates. More recently, they have been increasingly imported from the tropics or subtropics by travelers. We experienced two patients who had pruritic serpiginous linear eruption in their skin for a few weeks after traveling to the endemic areas (Brazil and Thailand, respectively). After the treatment with albendazole, the skin lesions resolved with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. We report herein two cases of cutaneous larva migrans successfully treated with albendazole.
Adult ; Albendazole/therapeutic use ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Human ; Larva Migrans/*drug therapy/pathology ; Male ; *Travel ; Treatment Outcome

A 20 year-old woman was admitted to our clinic complaining of dyspnea, cough, chest pain and pleural effusion. The diagnosis of pulmonary hydatid cyst was made on the basis of parasitology laboratory findings, computed tomographic results and chest radiographic findings. A giant pulmonary hydatid cyst (33x14x12 cm) was located in the left lower lobe, which involved more than 90% of the lobe. The patient was treated surgically using cystotomy and capitonnage. This is a case of a giant pulmonary hydatid cyst published in the literature, which was surgically treated without a lobectomy, by preserving the lung parenchyma.
Albendazole/therapeutic use ; Antiparasitic Agents/therapeutic use ; Cystotomy/methods ; Echinococcosis, Pulmonary/*diagnosis/radiography/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; *Pneumonectomy ; Young Adult

Three cases of cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) were diagnosed in a returnee from a trip to Thailand and in 2 domestic farmers during July and September, 2003. The linear and serpiginous skin lesions on the lower extremities were presented in all 3 cases. Routine laboratory findings were normal. In the imported case, a 650 x 30 micrometer sized filariform nematode larva, presumably a species of hookworm, was detected in the lesion. All cases were treated with 400 mg albendazole once daily for 3-5 days, and their skin lesions gradually improved. In the present study, a causative agent of CLM was isolated for the first time in the Republic of Korea. Moreover, we speculate that CLM is prevalent in farmers who are in frequent contact with soil in the Republic of Korea.
Middle Aged ; Male ; Larva Migrans/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*pathology ; Humans ; Female ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Albendazole/therapeutic use ; Aged ; Adult

Albendazole ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antiparasitic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cellulitis ; parasitology ; Eyelid Diseases ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Ivermectin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myiasis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Wounds and Injuries ; complications

Adult ; Albendazole ; therapeutic use ; Cerebellar Diseases ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurocysticercosis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

BACKGROUNDFor patients with end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE), in vivo resection of the involved parts of the liver is usually very difficult, therefore, allogenic liver transplantation is indicated. However, we hypothesize that for selected patents, ex vivo liver resection for thorough elimination of the involved tissues and liver autotransplantation may offer a chance for clinical cure.

METHODSWe presented a 24-year-old women with a giant hepatic AE lesion who was treated with hepatectomy, ex vivo resection of the involved tissue and hepatic autotransplantation. The patient had moderate jaundice and advanced hepatic AE lesion which involved segments I, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and retrohepatic inferior vena cava. The lateral segments (II and III) of the left liver remained normal with over 1000 ml in its volume. No extrahepatic metastases (such as to the lung or brain) could be found. As the first step of treatment, X-ray guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) was performed twice for bile drainage in segment III and II separately until her serum total bilirubin decreased gradually from 236 to 88 µmol/L. Total liver resection was then performed, followed by extended right hepatic trisegmentectomy and the entire retrohepatic vena cava was surgically removed en bloc while her hemodynamics parameters were stable. Neither veino-veinous bypass nor temporary intracorporeal cavo-caval or porto-caval shunt was used during the 5.7-hour anhepatic phase. The remained AE-free lateral segments of the left liver were re-implanted in situ. The left hepatic vein was directly anastomosed end-to-end to the suprahepatic inferior vena cava due to the lack of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava with AE total infiltration. Because compensatory retroperitoneal porto-caval collateral circulation developed, we enclosed remained infrahepatic inferior vena cava at renal vein level without any haemodynamics problems.

RESULTSDuring a 60-day following-up after operation, the patient had a good recovery except for a mildly elevated serum total bilirubin.

CONCLUSIONSAs a radical approach, ex vivo liver resection and liver autotransplantation in a case has shown a optimal potential for treatment of the end-stage hepatic AE. Strict compliance with its indications, evaluation of vessels of patients pre-operatively, and precise surgical techniques are the keys to improve the prognosis of patients.

Adult ; Albendazole ; therapeutic use ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Echinococcosis, Hepatic ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Radiography ; Young Adult

Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a hepatic disorder that resembles liver cancer, is a highly aggressive and lethal zoonotic infection caused by the larval stage of the fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis. E. multilocularis is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere; the disease-endemic area stretches from north America through Europe to central and east Asia, including northern parts of Japan, but it has not been reported in Korea. Herein, we represent a first case of AE in Korea. A 41-year-old woman was found to have a large liver mass on routine medical examination. The excised mass showed multinodular, necrotic, and spongiform appearance with small irregular pseudocystic spaces. Microscopically, the mass was composed of chronic granulomatous inflammation with extensive coagulation necrosis and parasite-like structure, which was revealed as parasitic vesicles and laminated layer delineated by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain. Clinical and histologic features were consistent with AE. After 8 years, a new liver mass and multiple metastatic pulmonary nodules were found and the recurred mass showed similar histologic features to the initial mass. She had never visited endemic areas of AE, and thus the exact infection route is unclear.
Adult ; Albendazole/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Anthelmintics/*therapeutic use ; Echinococcosis, Hepatic/*diagnosis/drug therapy/surgery ; Echinococcus/isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Liver/*pathology/radiography ; Recurrence ; Republic of Korea ; Treatment Outcome ; Zoonoses