title: Short-course of prednisolone in solitary cysticercus granuloma: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of administration of a short course of prednisolone on seizure and radiologic outcome in patients with solitary cysticercus granuloma (SCG).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-eight subjects presenting with new-onset seizures (<15 days duration) and with SCG demonstrated on imaging studies were randomly allocated to either treatment with prednisolone (40-60 mg/day for 2 weeks) or placebo in addition to standard antiepileptic drug therapy. The subjects were followed up for seizure recurrence for 9 months. Repeat computed tomography (CT, at 3 months) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, at 6 months) to evaluate resolution and calcification of the lesion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the proportion of subjects with seizure recurrence during the follow-up period in the treatment (n = 16, 21.9%) and control (n = 19, 25.33%) groups (p = 0.7). However, generalized seizures occurred in a significantly lesser proportion of subjects in the treatment group (n = 3, 15.79%) in comparison to the control group (n = 12, 60.00%) (p = 0.015). There were no significant differences in the proportion of subjects with complete resolution of the SCG on repeat CT at 3 months [treatment group (27, 46.7%) and control group (23, 39.8%); p = 0.453] and repeat MRI at 6 months [treatment group (28, 46.7%) and control group (21, 38.9%); p = 0.402].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The administration of a short course of prednisolone does not offer significant improvement in seizure control, although a benefit in terms of reducing the likelihood of generalized seizures is possible. Furthermore, it does not improve the chances of resolution of the SCG on follow-up imaging studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. drmonika78@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singla
authors.forename: Sudesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prabhakar
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modi
authors.forename: Bikash
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Medhi
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khandelwal
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone