Randomized Study of Albendazole in Patients With Epilepsy Due to Neurocysticercosis

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00004403

Enrollment

120

Registered

1999-10-19

Start date

2000-05-31

Completion date

2002-03-31

Last updated

2015-03-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cysticercosis, Epilepsy

Keywords

cysticercosis, epilepsy, immunologic disorders and infectious disorders, neurologic and psychiatric disorders, parasitic infection, rare disease, seizures

Brief summary

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the effect of antiparasitic treatment with albendazole on the severity and duration of epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis. II. Determine the effect of a short course of albendazole on Taenia solium cysts present in the brain. III. Determine the natural regression of cerebral T. solium cysts in patients given placebo and their response to treatment at the end of the study.

Detailed description

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double blind study. Patients are randomized to receive either albendazole and dexamethasone or placebo. Patients receive phenytoin daily starting on day 1 and continuing until seizure free for 1 year. Albendazole and dexamethasone or placebo only is administered orally once daily on days 5-15. Patients are asked to maintain a diary. Patients are followed on day 15 and 30, then every 3 months for 3 years. Completion date provided represents the completion date of the grant per OOPD records

Interventions

DRUGalbendazole

DRUGdexamethasone

DRUGphenytoin

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

16 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA: --Disease Characteristics-- * Presence of Taenia solium infection as demonstrated by serology and head CT Head CT showing no more than 20 cysts * At least 2 spontaneous seizures within the last 6 months excluding: Absence seizures Rolandic seizures Bilateral spike wave patterns compatible with genetic epilepsy --Prior/Concurrent Therapy-- * No prior therapy for cysticercosis --Patient Characteristics-- * Age: 16 to 65 * Performance status: Not specified * Hematopoietic: Not specified * Hepatic: Not specified * Renal: Not specified * Neurologic: No focal deficits No motor deficits No cranial nerve lesions History of epilepsy of less than 5 years in duration No head CT evidence of the following: Arteriovenous malformations Trauma Cerebral infarcts or hemorrhages No other focal disease not attributable to cysticercosis No moderate or severe intracranial hypertension No status epilepticus * Other: No unstable condition due to systemic disease or cysticercosis Not pregnant

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026