Hints for control of infection in unique extrahepatic vertebral alveolar echinococcosis

Infection. 2017 Jun;45(3):365-368. doi: 10.1007/s15010-016-0974-z. Epub 2016 Dec 21.

Abstract

The prognosis of vertebral alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is poor. We report on the unique outcome of a patient with preexisting liver cirrhosis, in whom a diagnosis of vertebral AE was established on vertebral histopathology (D4 corporectomy in 2010 for paraplegia). Therapeutic drug monitoring of albendazole (ABZ) showed that a low dosage was appropriate. The patient recovered and ABZ withdrawal was decided in 2014, with no relapse 18 months later. In this patient, infection was purely or mainly localized in the dorsal spine, and this may have been favored by liver cirrhosis. A longer follow-up is, however, needed to confirm cure.

Keywords: Alveolar echinococcosis; Cure; Therapeutic drug monitoring; Vertebral.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Albendazole / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Anticestodal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Echinococcosis
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / diagnosis
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / diagnostic imaging
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / drug therapy*
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / parasitology
  • Echinococcus multilocularis / physiology
  • France
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Spinal Diseases / parasitology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anticestodal Agents
  • Albendazole

Supplementary concepts

  • Alveolar echinococcosis