Albendazole for lymphatic filariasis (Review)

Addiss, D., Gamble, C., Garner, Paul ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0607-6941, Gelband, H., Ejere, H. and Critchley, J. (2009) 'Albendazole for lymphatic filariasis (Review)'. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 4, CD003753.

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Abstract

Background
Mass treatment with albendazole co-administered with another antifilarial drug is part of a global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. We sought reliable evidence of the effects of albendazole on the disease and the parasite.
Objectives
To summarize the effects of albendazole alone or in combination with antifilarial drugs for clinical treatment and community control of lymphatic filariasis.
Search strategy
We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register (August 2005), CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to August 2005), EMBASE (1974 to August 2005), LILACS (1982 to August 2005), and reference lists.We also contacted researchers, the World Health Organization, and GlaxoSmithKline.
Selection criteria
Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials of albendazole alone or combined with another antifilarial drug for treating individuals with lymphatic filariasis, or for reducing transmission in endemic communities.
Data collection and analysis
Two authors independently assessed eligibility and trial quality, and extracted data. Authors contacted investigators for missing information or clarification.
Main results
Seven trials including 6997 participants (995 with detectable microfilariae) met the criteria. A comparison of albendazole and placebo detected no effect on microfilariae prevalence (920 participants; 3 trials); one trial (499 participants) reported significantly lower microfilariae density at six months. Albendazole performed slightly worse than ivermectin in two trials (436 participants). Compared with diethylcarbamazine (DEC), two small trials (56 participants) found little difference in microfilariae prevalence over an extended follow up. One larger trial (502 participants) found a statistically significant effect for DEC at six months, but none at three months. Microfilariae prevalence and density were statistically significantly lower with the combination of albendazole and ivermectin compared with ivermectin alone in two of three trials (649 participants). Two trials compared albendazole plus DEC with DEC alone and found no statistically significant difference in microfilariae prevalence, though one trial favoured the combination at six months (risk ratio 0.62, 95% confidence interval 0.32 to 1.21; 491 participants). This trial also found a statistically significant reduction in microfilariae density.
Authors’ conclusions
There is insufficient evidence to confirm or refute that albendazole co-administered with DEC or ivermectin is more effective than DEC or ivermectin alone in clearing microfilariae or killing adult worms. Albendazole combined with ivermectin appears to have a small effect on microfilaraemia, but this was not consistently demonstrated. The effect of albendazole against adult and larval filarial parasites, alone and in combination with other antifilarial drugs, deserves further rigorous research.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This review is published as a Cochrane Review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4. Cochrane Reviews are regularly updated as new evidence emerges and in response to comments and criticisms, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews should be consulted for the most recent version of the Review.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Albendazole, Diethylcarbamazine, Drug Therapy, Elephantiasis, Filarial, Filaricides, Ivermectin, Randomized Controlled Trials
Subjects:	QV Pharmacology > Anti-Inflammatory Agents. Anti-Infective Agents. Antineoplastic Agents > QV 250 Anti-infective agents (General) QV Pharmacology > QV 38 Drug action. QX Parasitology > Helminths. Annelida > QX 301 Filarioidea WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 765 Prevention and control WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 880 Filariasis and related conditions (General)
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > International Health Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003753.pub3
Related URLs:	http://www.cochrane.org/cochrane-reviews
Depositing User:	Martin Chapman
Date Deposited:	13 Sep 2011 17:13
Last Modified:	06 Sep 2019 10:14
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/2332

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