Medical treatment for neurocysticercosis characterized by giant subarachnoid cysts.
BACKGROUND
Infection with the larval form of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, can lead to the development of cysts in the brain. Surgical removal of cysts has been the accepted treatment for neurocysticercosis characterized by giant cysts when there is associated intracranial hypertension.


METHODS
We describe 33 patients whom we treated medically for malignant forms of neurocysticercosis. All patients had evidence of intracranial hypertension and subarachnoid cysts at least 50 mm in diameter. All patients received 15 mg of albendazole per kilogram of body weight per day for four weeks. Ten patients were also treated with 100 mg of praziquantel per kilogram per day for four weeks. Seventeen patients received a second course of albendazole, three received a third course, and one received a fourth course. During the first cycle of treatment, all patients also received dexamethasone. Five patients had previously undergone neurosurgery for giant cysts.


RESULTS
After a median of 59 months of follow-up (range, 7 to 102), the condition of all 33 patients had improved, and the cysts had disappeared or become calcified. Of the 22 patients with a history of seizures, only 11 continued to receive antiseizure medications. The median quality-of-life score on the Karnofsky scale improved from 40 to 100. Fifteen patients received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt because of hydrocephalus. Four patients had persistent sequelae (bilateral partial optic atrophy, stroke, or diplopia) of the cysts.


CONCLUSIONS
Intensive medical treatment can be effective in patients with neurocysticercosis characterized by giant cysts. Neurosurgery may be required only when there is an imminent risk of death.
Proaño
J V
JV
Medical Research Unit for Neurologic Diseases, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City. proanio_00@yahoo.com
Madrazo
I
I
Avelar
F
F
López-Félix
B
B
Díaz
G
G
Grijalva
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015766:Albendazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000923:Anticestodal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
D000923:Anticestodal Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011223:Praziquantel; D003907:Dexamethasone; D015766:Albendazole