Albendazole for treatment and prophylaxis of microsporidiosis due to Encephalitozoon intestinalis in patients with AIDS: a randomized double-blind controlled trial

J Infect Dis. 1998 May;177(5):1373-7. doi: 10.1086/515268.

Abstract

A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of albendazole (400 mg twice daily for 3 weeks) for the treatment of Encephalitozoon intestinalis infection in patients with AIDS. Clearance of microsporidia from the intestinal tract was obtained in 4 of 4 patients in the albendazole group versus 0 of 4 in the control group (P = .01, one-sided Fisher's exact test) and was associated with significant clinical benefit. All 4 controls subsequently cleared microsporidia following open-labeled albendazole treatment. To investigate the effect of albendazole in preventing relapse, these 8 patients were then randomly assigned to receive either albendazole (400 mg twice daily) or no treatment for the next 12 months. Albendazole significantly delayed the occurrence of relapse (P = .04, one-sided log-rank test). In human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with E. intestinalis infection, albendazole has parasitologic and clinical efficacy and reduces the risk of relapse.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / parasitology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / prevention & control
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications
  • Adult
  • Albendazole / adverse effects
  • Albendazole / therapeutic use*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / adverse effects
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Encephalitozoon / isolation & purification
  • Encephalitozoonosis / drug therapy*
  • Encephalitozoonosis / prevention & control*
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Placebos

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Placebos
  • Albendazole