Vermox
[Long-term therapy of cystic liver echinococcosis with mebendazole]

[Article in German]

Rippmann K, Dietrich M, Kern P.

Sektion Infektionskrankheiten und Tropenmedizin, Medizinische Universitatsklinik und Poliklinik, Ulm.

Surgery is the therapy of choice in the treatment of infestations with Echinococcus (E.) granulosus and E. multilocularis. Chemotherapy with mebendazole, a benzimidazole derivative, introduced 1976 in the therapy of human echinococcosis, showed good results only in cases of infestation with E. multilocularis. In the cases of liver cysts, caused by E. granulosus, the treatment with mebendazole did not succeed as well. Between 1977 and 1986, 44 patients, suffering from infestations with E. granulosus, were referred to the Clinical Department of the Bernhard-Nocht-Institut. In a retrospective study, the data of seven patients had been evaluated: They had not undergone surgery because of the size of the lesions or because they refused the operative treatment. Receiving mebendazole as the only therapy, they had been treated and followed up for more than four years. Mebendazole was given in a dosage of 50 mg/kg body weight in repeated cycles of one month's duration followed by a treatment-free interval of two months. After a median of 55 months (median 13 effective treatment months) six of the seven patients presented a therapeutical success as demonstrated by ultrasound and computed tomography. The cystic lesions had dissolved or decreased in size considerably. One case showed unaltered findings of the liver lesion. Mebendazole treatment was well tolerated by all patients. If the size of the cystic liver-lesions excludes a curative operative treatment or if the patient refuses surgery, the indication for chemotherapy with mebendazole is given.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1508115&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
In-vitro susceptibility of Giardia lamblia to albendazole, mebendazole and other chemotherapeutic agents.

Cedillo-Rivera R, Munoz O.

Unidad de Investigacion Clinica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatria, Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, D.F.

The susceptibility of a strain of Giardia lamblia to benzimidazole carbamates, 5-nitroimidazoles, nitrofurans and other drugs was studied in vitro. Albendazole was the most active compound, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.01 mg/L and a minimal lethal concentration (MLC) of less than 0.04 mg/L; the IC50 of mebendazole was 0.06 mg/L and the MLC less than 0.5 mg/L. Among the 5-nitroimidazoles tested, ornidazole was the most effective (IC50 0.12 mg/L); tinidazole, metronidazole, secnidazole and hemezole were less active. Nifuroxazide, etofamide and nalidixic acid exhibited modest anti-giardial activity; quinfamide did not inhibit the growth of the parasite at a concentration of 200 mg/L. Albendazole and mebendazole are promising candidates for clinical use and should be further evaluated.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1518040&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
Experience in the chemotherapy of severe, inoperable echinococcosis in man.

Todorov T, Vutova K, Mechkov G, Tonchev Z, Georgiev P, Lazarova I.

Institute of Pharmacology, Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria.

The effect of albendazole and mebendazole was studied in 25 patients with severe, multiple, inoperable echinococcosis. Eleven patients were treated with albendazole 10 mg/kg/day for four courses of 30 days with 15-day drug-free intervals and 14 with mebendazole 50-70 mg/kg/day continuously for between 6 and 24 months. The determination of cyst response was based on the changes in cyst appearance as seen by radiography, ultrasound and computed tomography. Albendazole and mebendazole were found to have favourable effects in patients with severe, inoperable hydatid disease, although the degree of response varied. Treatment with albendazole was successful in seven cases, partially successful in two, and failure was noted in the other two patients. In patients treated with mebendazole, success was established in three, partial success in five and failure in six cases. The differences in response were mainly associated with cyst condition and the drug used. In some cases long-term therapy and retreatment should be recommended.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1563807&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
Brugia malayi in Mastomys natalensis: efficacy of mebendazole in combination with Freund's complete adjuvant.

Murthy PK, Tyagi K, Chatterjee RK.

Division of Parasitology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.

The chemotherapeutic efficacy of mebendazole given in combination with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) against Brugia malayi in multimammate rat was evaluated. Animals treated with mebendazole, orally at 200 mg/kg x 5 consecutive days along with FCA given subcutaneously (s.c.) on day -10, day 0 and day +15 of the drug treatment killed 48.51% of the adult worms. This drug given alone at the same regimen and by the same route showed only 18.7% mortality rate on adults. Mebendazole given intraperitoneally along with FCA given s.c., however, was four times more efficacious as filaricide than mebendazole alone. Nevertheless, the animals receiving FCA alone also revealed 23.5% mortality rate of adult worms. The animals receiving a combination therapy or FCA alone showed significant increase in antibody titre to the filariae which however decreased in the later stages. No enhancement of antibody level could be detected in animals treated with mebendazole alone. The non-specific immunopotentiation induced by FCA appeared to play a major role in enhancing the activity of mebendazole.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1644349&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
Comparative study on gastric absorption of albendazole and mebendazole in rats.

Prieto JG, Justel A, del Estal JL, Barrio JP, Alvarez AI.

Laboratory Animal Physiology, University of Leon, Spain.

1. A study was carried out to determine the kinetics of the gastric absorption of two wide spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintics, albendazole and mebendazole. 2. The method used was gastric recirculation of solutions containing the drugs in concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 100 mM. 3. The results obtained showed that absorption corresponds to first order kinetics, with diffusion constants of 0.0087 min-1 for albendazole and 0.0077 min-1 for mebendazole. 4. Blood levels of the drugs for the whole range of concentrations were always higher in the case of albendazole.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1687533&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
Treatment of experimental alveolar echinococcosis: comparative study of mebendazole, isoprinosine and a mebendazole isoprinosine association.

Sarciron ME, al-Nahhas S, Walbaum S, Raynaud G, Petavy AF.

Department of Parasitology, Claude-Bernard University, Lyon, France.

A comparative biochemical study of the effects of mebendazole and Isoprinosine used separately or associated was conducted in six-month old gerbils infected three months ago by Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes. Mebendazole treatment induced a decrease of glucose (81%) whereas Isoprinosine increased the glucose uptake in the parasite. The combination of the two drugs led to a decrease of about 40% of the glucose concentration. The specific activities of alkaline and acid phosphatases were also modified. Isoprinosine seemed more effective when used alone than associated with mebendazole with the chosen procedure of treatment.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1724571&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox