We included 105 patients of new-onset seizures and solitary cysticercus granuloma. We compared 3-day albendazole therapy and 15-day therapy with a control group. Each group had 35 patients. This was an open-label randomized trial. Patients were followed for 6 months. MRI was done after 6 months. Seizure recurrences during follow-up were noted.
After 6 months, albendazole group, in comparison to placebo group, had significantly higher proportion (43/70 versus 13/35) of patients in whom lesion had disappeared. Albendazole treatment for 15 days was insignificantly better in comparison to 3-day treatment regimen. In 15-day albendazole group lesser number of lesions (2.8 % ) was calcified than 3-day albendazole group (8.57 % ) or no treatment group (20 % ). After 6 months of follow-up, seizure recurrence was seen in 20 (19 % ) patients. The majority (15/20) of patients, experiencing seizure recurrence, had an abnormal follow-up MRI. Five patients had seizures despite normal MRI.
In conclusion, albendazole was significantly better in producing lesion resolution. A 15-day treatment with albendazole was better than 3-day treatment. Albendazole, possibly, led to less number of lesions got calcified and possibly, there was less risk of seizure recurrence.