Cysticidal Therapy for Diffuse Parenchymal and Calcific Neurocysticercosis

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Nov 16;104(2):734-738. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1124.

Abstract

Antiparasitic treatment improves the prognosis for neurocysticercosis (NCC)-induced seizures. However, patients with high lesion loads are typically denied the possible benefit of cysticidal therapy because of fear of complications, and such patients are not represented in clinical trials involving cysticidal therapy. We provide proof of concept for combination treatment with dual antiparasitic therapy and corticosteroids in patients with diffuse lesions, including starry sky patterns, or calcific NCC. The safety and efficacy of treating patients with high lesion loads or calcific NCC should be tested in a randomized controlled trial.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antiparasitic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Calcification, Physiologic / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neurocysticercosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neurocysticercosis / drug therapy*
  • Neurocysticercosis / parasitology
  • Prognosis
  • Seizures / etiology
  • Taenia solium / drug effects*
  • Taenia solium / pathogenicity
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Antiparasitic Agents