Effect of a single dose (600 mg) of albendazole on Loa loa microfilaraemia

Abstract

The problem of Loa encephalopathy, which may occur after ivermectin treatment of patients harbouring high Loa microfilarial loads, might be solved if one could find a treatment regimen bringing about a significant but progressive decrease in the Loa microfilaraemia. A trial was performed in Central Cameroon, whose aim was to follow up for 1 0 months, and to compare the changes in the Loa microfilarial loads in two groups of patients, one treated with a single dose (600 mg) of albendazole (Alben®, SmithKline Beecham) given with fatty food, and the other treated with mebendazole (100 mg, twice a day, generic tablets) at a fasting state. The microfilarial loads remained stable in the mebendazole group, whereas a significant decrease in microfilaraemia was recorded in the albendazole group (initial median load: 230 microfilariae per 50 μl; median load ten months after: 84 microfilariae per 50 μl). This should encourage further trials to evaluate the effects and the safely of two- or three-day albendazole regimens in patients infected with Loa loa.

Keywords

• albendazole
• Loa loa
• loiasis
• onchocerciasis
• clinical trial
• ivermectin
• side effects