title: Optimizing therapy of seizures in patients with HIV and cysticercosis.
abstract: Worldwide, about 40 million people are living with HIV and 50 million people have neurocysticercosis (NCC). About 5% of patients with HIV and the majority of patients with NCC develop recurrent seizures. Mechanisms of seizure production in HIV include mass lesions, meningitis, encephalitis, and ischemia. Seizures in NCC may occur at all stages of cyst development, from the vesicular and colloidal to the calcified stages. Seizures in HIV present special problems with regard to choice of antiepileptic drug (AED) and the potential for drug-drug interactions with antiretroviral (ARV) treatments. Newer AEDs with simpler pharmacokinetic profiles may be the preferred agents, particularly when protease inhibitors form part of ARV regimens. Seizures in NCC are easily controlled with the older AEDs. Although there has been some debate about the value of antiparasitic drugs in NCC, accumulating data suggest that the use of these agents in active disease decreases the risk for development of chronic epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Mayville 4058, South Africa. Bhigjee@ukzn.ac.za
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bhigjee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosemberg
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents