Inoperable cerebral alveolar echinococcosis controlled with high dosages of albendazole adjusted with monitoring of blood levels

J Travel Med. 2012 May-Jun;19(3):198-201. doi: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2012.00600.x.

Abstract

Cerebral alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare and difficult-to-treat zoonosis caused by Echinococcus multilocularis. A 29-year-old immigrant from Siberia with a past history of hepatic AE, presented with acute onset of grand mal seizures, weakness of the left leg, and cephalgia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed inoperable right-sided infiltrative lesions, suggesting cerebral AE. Despite anthelmintic treatment only slow improvement occurred.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Albendazole / administration & dosage*
  • Albendazole / analogs & derivatives
  • Albendazole / pharmacokinetics
  • Anticestodal Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anticestodal Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis
  • Brain Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Brain Diseases / parasitology*
  • Brain Edema / parasitology
  • Brain Edema / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Monitoring
  • Echinococcosis
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / diagnosis
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / drug therapy*
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / surgery
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Germany
  • Hepatectomy
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Recurrence
  • Siberia / ethnology
  • Travel*

Substances

  • Anticestodal Agents
  • Albendazole
  • albendazole sulfoxide

Supplementary concepts

  • Alveolar echinococcosis