Cerebral cysticercosis: treatment with praziquantel. Report of two cases.
Two patients with cerebral cysticercosis are described: one with a long-standing infection with multiple intracerebral calcifications, and one who had become infected only recently. Treatment with praziquantel 50 mg/kg body weight daily for 14 days resulted in clinical and radiological improvement in the first patient, although she obviously still harbored a number of viable non-calcified parasites. The second patient was completely cured by the same praziquantel regimen. Both patients needed temporary corticosteroid treatment to suppress development of intracranial hypertension. Computerized tomographic scanning and regular measurement of serum antibody titers against cysticercal and echinococcal antigen seem appropriate methods for follow-up of the effect of chemotherapy.
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003552:Cysticercus / Q000276:immunology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000906:Antibodies; D007546:Isoquinolines; C011019:barbexaclone; D011223:Praziquantel; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010634:Phenobarbital