RESUMEN

A double-blind clinical trial was conducted in Monagas State, Venezuela to assess the tolerance and efficacy of albendazole in the therapy of Onchocerca volvulus infection. Forty-nine patients (26 treated and 23 controls) received a 10-day course of albendazole (400 mg/day) or a placebo. Consistent with the excellent tolerance observed, albendazole did not kill microfilariae. However, analysis of changes in microfilarial densities (mf/mg of skin) over one year showed that albendazole was active against O. volvulus, presumably by interfering with embryogenesis. The nature, degree, and duration of this effect remain to be determined.

Asunto(s)

Albendazol/uso terapéutico , Onchocerca volvulus/efectos de los fármacos , Oncocercosis/tratamiento farmacológico , Adolescente , Adulto , Albendazol/farmacología , Animales , Cámara Anterior/parasitología , Método Doble Ciego , Tolerancia a Medicamentos , Humanos , Masculino , Microfilarias/efectos de los fármacos , Microfilarias/aislamiento & purificación , Persona de Mediana Edad , Onchocerca volvulus/aislamiento & purificación , Oncocercosis/sangre , Oncocercosis/orina , Oncocercosis Ocular/tratamiento farmacológico , Piel/parasitología , Venezuela