[Neurocysticercosis].
A 49-year-old woman from Croatia, resident in Switzerland for 22 years, had a history of headaches and arterial hypertension for 8 years. While in hospital for assessment and treatment she developed focal seizures. She had an eosinophilia (10%) and computed tomography of the skull demonstrated cysts and multiple calcified foci in the left cerebral hemisphere. Antibodies against Taenia solium antigen were found in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Anthelminthic treatment with albendazole (15 mg/kg daily for 25 days) and anticonvulsive treatment with phenytoin (serum levels between 10 and 20 mg/l) markedly improved the symptoms and the cysts regressed. Neurocysticercosis, caused by the larvae of the pork tapeworm, is occurring even more frequently because of the migration of people from countries where the disease is endemic.
Bauer
T M
TM
Medizinische Notfallstation und Poliklinik, Kantonsspital Basel.
Brühwiler
J
J
Aschwanden
M
M
Wagner
S
S
Schwander
J
J
D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D017523:Croatia / Q000208:ethnology; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000175:diagnosis; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013557:Switzerland; D013621:Taenia / Q000276:immunology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D010672:Phenytoin; D015766:Albendazole
Neurozystizerkose.