Is mebendazole any good for hydatid disease?

ABSTRACT

Sixty patients with Echinococcus granulosus of various organs, and one patient with Echinococcus alveolaris of the liver, were treated with mebendazole at 50 mgr/kg body weight for a minimum of six months, without untoward reactions as determined by monthly CBC, SGOT and SGPT measurements. Results were assessed on the basis of A] clinical response, B] paraclinical tests, and C] surgical findings. Two of these three criteria had to be positive to permit a conclusion that the disease had responded to the treatment in terms of 'cure' [complete elimination of the disease] or control [cessation of growth of the lesion]. On this basis 26 patients [43%] had positive response, and 14 patients including the single patient with Echinococcus alveolaris [23%], had no response whatever. For the remaining 20 patients [33%] no clear cut decision could be reached