Albendazole therapy for eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis (original) (raw)

Abstract

Eosinophilic meningitis in humans is commonly caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis. A severe headache is the most common presenting symptom. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo, controlled study was conducted to determine if albendazole was efficacious in relieving such headaches. Seventy-one patients (36 and 35 in the treatment and control groups) were enrolled in the study. Five patients (two and three in the treatment and control groups) were excluded from the study because of being lost to follow-up, and the clinical data were incomplete. Therefore, 34 and 32 patients in the treatment and control groups were studied, respectively. Albendazole was administered at 15 mg/kg/day or identical placebo for 2 weeks. The number of patients with persistent headaches after 2 weeks was 7 and 13 in the albendazole and placebo groups (p = 0.08), respectively. The mean duration of a headache was 8.9 and 16.2 days in the albendazole and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.05). No serious drug events were observed. A 2-week course of albendazole appeared to reduce the duration of headache in eosinophilic meningitis.

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Acknowledgment

We would like to thank Professor Kiertjai Bhuripanyo for the study design advice, Assistant Professor Malinee Laopaiboon for statistical advice, SK & F (Thailand) for providing drug and identical placebo and the Grant support by the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
   Suthipun Jitpimolmard & Kittisak Sawanyawisuth
2. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50002, Thailand
   Nimit Morakote
3. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
   Athasit Vejjajiva
4. Department of Clinical Microscopy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
   Montien Puntumetakul & Kanokwan Sanchaisuriya
5. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
   Wongwiwat Tassaneeyakul & Wichittra Tassaneeyakul
6. Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiangmai University, Chiang Mai, 50002, Thailand
   Narumanas Korwanich

Authors

1. Suthipun Jitpimolmard
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2. Kittisak Sawanyawisuth
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3. Nimit Morakote
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4. Athasit Vejjajiva
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5. Montien Puntumetakul
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6. Kanokwan Sanchaisuriya
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7. Wongwiwat Tassaneeyakul
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8. Wichittra Tassaneeyakul
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9. Narumanas Korwanich
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Correspondence toKittisak Sawanyawisuth.

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Jitpimolmard, S., Sawanyawisuth, K., Morakote, N. et al. Albendazole therapy for eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis .Parasitol Res 100, 1293–1296 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0405-7

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• Received: 05 August 2005
• Accepted: 22 November 2006
• Published: 20 December 2006
• Issue Date: May 2007
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0405-7

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