[Combination therapy of albendazole and praziquantel in treatment of hydatid cyst]

The standard therapy of hydatid cyst is surgery, but in non-operable patients and multiple organ involvement medical therapy may be more useful. Efficacy of drugs especially in short duration in treatment of hydatid cyst is unknown. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of combination therapy with Albendazole and praziquantel in treatment of hydatid diseases. In a nonrandomized clinical trial, 9 hydatid cyst patients with multiple organ involvement or post surgical recurrence were treated with albendazole and praziquentel for 3 months. The average follow up was 18 months. Response to treatment was assessed through the observation of the symptoms, radiologic [CT scan, sonography, and X-ray]. Symptoms disappeared in 7 [77/8%] patients and improved partially in 2 [22/2%]. Radiologic assessment showed significant improvement in 5 [55/6%] and partial improvement in 4 [44/4%] patients. Combination therapy with albendazol and praziquentel is effective in treatment of hydatid cyst and can be used as an alternative to surgery in disseminated and non-operable cases