Fernandez F, Rodriguez-Vidigal F, Ledesma V, Cabanillas Y, Vagace J, 1996. Aplastic anemia during treatment with albendazole. Am J Hematol 53 :53–54.
Yildez B, Haznedaroglu I, Coplu L, 1998. Albendazole-induced amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura. Ann Pharmacother 32 :842.
Lacey E, 1990. Mode of action of benzimidazoles. Parasitol Today 6 :112–115.
Horton R, 1997. Albendazole in treatment of human cystic echinococcosis: 12 years of experience. Acta Trop 64 :79–93.
Vutova K, Mechkov G, Vachkov P, Petkov R, Georgiev P, Handjiev S, Ivanov A, Todorov T, 1999. Effect of mebendazole on human cystic echinococcosis: the role of dosage and treatment duration. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 93 :357–365.
Menezes da Silva A, 2003. Hydatid cyst of the liver - criteria for the selection of appropriate treatment. Acta Trop 85 :237–242.
Steiger U, Cotting J, Reichen J, 1990. Albendazole treatment of echinococcosis in humans: effects on microsomal metabolism and drug tolerance. Clin Pharmacol Ther 47 :347–353.
Horton R, 2000. Albendazole: a review of anthelmintic efficacy and safety in humans. Parasitology 121 :S113–S132.
Morris D, Jourdan J-L, Pourgholami M, 2001. Pilot study of albendazole in patients with advanced malignancy. Oncology 61 :42–46.
Dow GS, O’Hara AJ, Newton SC, Reynoldson JA, Thompson RC, 2000. Plasmodium berghei: the antimalarial activity of albendazole in rats is mediated via effects on the hematopoietic system. Exp Parasitol 94 :259–263.
Nagy J, Koopman R, Butter J, Van Boxtel C, Kager P, 2002. Effect of grapefruit juice or cimetidine coadministration on albendazole bioavailability. Am J Trop Med Hyg 66 :260–263.
Gottschall D, Theodorides V, Wang R, 1990. The metabolism of benzimidazole anthelmintics. Parasitol Today 6 :115–122.
Lanusse C, Gasçon L, Prichard R, 1995. Comparative plasma disposition kinetics of albendazole, fenbendazole, oxfendazole and their metabolites in adult sheep. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 18 :196–203.
Mirfazaelian A, Rouini M, Dadashzadeh S, 2002. Dose dependent pharmacokinetics of albendazole in human. Biopharm Drugs Dispos 23 :379–383.
Schmidt L, Dalhoff K, 2002. Food-drug interactions. Drugs 62 :1481–1502.
Cotting J, Zengin T, Steign U, 1990. Albendazole kinetics in patients with echinococcosis: delayed absorption and unpaired elimination in cholestasis. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 38 :605–608.
Mirfazaelian A, Rouini M, Dadashzadeh S, 2003. Time dependent pharmacokinetics of albendazole in human. Biopharm Drugs Dispos 24 :199–204.
Baliharova V, Skalova L, Maas R, De Vrieze G, Bull S, Fink-Gremmels J, 2003. The effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics on P4501A in rat hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. Res Vet Sci 75 :61–69.
Lubega G, Prichard R, 1991. Interaction of benzimidazole anthelmintics with Haemonchus contortus tubulin: binding affinity and anthelmintic efficacy. Exp Parasitol 73 :203–213.
Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Full Text Views | 341 | 157 | 0 |
PDF Downloads | 186 | 83 | 0 |
Albendazole is a benzimidazole with wide spectrum coverage as an antiparasitic drug. Reported side effects have been minimal. We report the case of a patient who died with severe prolonged pancytopenia beginning during the third week of therapy for a pulmonary echinococcal cyst. This case was a 68-year-old man who presented with a large cystic lung mass. His medical history was significant for Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis. A prolonged course of albendazole was initiated. Two weeks later, the patient presented in septic shock with severe pancytopenia. The patient was initially resuscitated, but died after 10 days with no marrow recovery. Autopsy was consistent with albendazole-induced pancytopenia. This is the third human case of pancytopenia and the first death reported in relation to albendazole-induced pancytopenia. Neutropenia seems to be related more to higher dosage and longer duration of use. Albendazole sulfoxide peak dose and half life are significantly prolonged by liver disease and concomitant administration of certain drugs. The severity and duration of albendazole-induced pancytopenia in this case was likely related to the underlying liver disease. Frequent serial monitoring of blood counts and cessation of medication with any evidence of marrow toxicity in such patients is warranted.