title: [Cerebral cysticercosis: 4 cases].
abstract: Four cases of cerebral cysticercosis are reported, occurring in an immigrant population. Two patients presented with periodic epileptic fits and cerebral calcifications. One patient presented with an acute hemiparesis associated with lymphocytic meningitis and cerebral calcifications; the fourth patient had chronic meningitis with epileptic fits. Three patients were treated with praziquantel: an acute reaction occurred during treatment in two cases with an increase in the titres of the immunological reaction of hydatid cyst disease in one case. The authors suggest classifying this condition in three types: acute (parenchymatous or subarachnoid), chronic (chronic meningitis, hydrocephalus, progressive dementia), and sequelae (epilepsy with or without headaches). This classification seems the most appropriate way of summarizing the variable clinical presentation of this condition which is rarely observed in France. The most valuable diagnostic investigation is CT brain scanning. Immunological reaction to hydatid cyst (CSF and blood) are sometimes negative. Treatment with praziquantel often causes an acute reaction with a rise in antibody titres; this is a clinically benign reaction, and it could be used as a diagnostic test.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: La cysticercose cérébrale: quatre cas.