Neurocysticercosis: A five-year experience
Introduction Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic disease with wide distribution which is caused by larval forms of Taenia Solium. Our aim was to: show the most common clinical manifestations of patients with NCC and their importance in diagnosing this disease; examine the value of serologic diagnostic methods in blood and cerebrospinal fluid; to emphasize the value of radiological diagnostic methods ? CT and MRI of the brain, in relation to the applied protocol of therapy, as well as the impact of anti-parasitic therapy on the outcome of this disease. Material, methods and results 13 patients with NCC (from 35 to 63 years of age, median age 49; 61,5% male and 38,5% female) were treated at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases in Novi Sad during a five-year period. Two patients had a positive epidemic data of parasitic diseases of the intestinal tract in childhood. The most common clinical manifestation was headache in 61,5% of patients, and generalized convulsions and hemiparesis in 46,2%. Meningeal inflammation was present in 27,3% of patients. Two of five patients had positive ELISA test for cysticercosis in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. CT and MRI findings confirmed parenchimal form of NCC in 30,8% of patients, while calcifications were found in 69,2% of patients. All patients were treated with Albendazole, 800 mg a day, in two doses. 30,76% of patients had a favorable outcome of the disease, 53,7% of patients were discharged with complications, and one patient died. Conclusion The most common manifestation of NCC in our patients was headache, followed by general convulsions and hemiparesis. Radiological diagnostic methods ? CT and MRI ? proved to be most valuable both in diagnostics and follow-up of lesions. All our patients were treated with Albendazole; Dexamethasone was applied in patients with severe inflammatory reaction, and anti-convulsive drugs in patients with convulsions.