Experimental and clinical trial of albendazole in the treatment of Clonorchiasis sinensis.

Rats and dogs experimentally infected with Clonorchias sinensis metacercariae were treated orally with albendazole. Necropsy done seven days after treatment revealed that the worm reduction rates were 83.6% and 96.8% respectively. Clinically, 131 patients were treated with 3 different dosage regimens in 3 study groups. In patients receiving 5 mg/kg b.i.d. for 7 consecutive days, the stool egg negative conversion rates 1-month and 6-month post treatment were 90% and 92.6%, while in patients receiving 10 mg/kg b.i.d. for 7 consecutive days the rate were both 100%. In another group of patients receiving 10 mg/kg b.i.d. for 3 consecutive days, the 1-month and 3-month average stool egg conversion rates after treatment were only 40.0% and 28.3% respectively. The side reactions of albendazole were mild and transient. The liver and renal function tests, electrocardiography and blood and urine examinations showed no remarkable changes before and after treatment. The therapeutic effect of albendazole is comparable to praziquantel. It has the advantage of clearing various intestinal helminthic infections simultaneously, very low toxicity, excellent tolerance and relatively low cost, though its treatment course for clonorchiasis needs 7 days.