Monitored medico-surgical approach to the treatment of cystic hydatidosis.

Significant improvements in the health of patients with chronic multifocal abdominal hydatidosis, leading to recovery, have been observed after combined medico-surgical treatment. The benefits of massive surgical removal of cysts, accompanied by effective doses of albendazole, were assessed by the clinical, radiological, and immunological responses of individual patients. Variations in the levels of specific classes of immunoglobulins and circulating immunocomplexes provided additional measures of the state of host response and the persistence of parasitic activity.