title: Neurocysticercosis: A natural human model of epileptogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a better understanding of mechanisms of seizures and long-term epileptogenesis using neurocysticercosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A workshop was held bringing together experts in epilepsy and epileptogenesis and neurocysticercosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human neurocysticercosis and parallel animal models offer a unique opportunity to understand basic mechanisms of seizures. Inflammatory responses to degenerating forms and later-stage calcified parasite granulomas are associated with seizures and epilepsy. Other mechanisms may also be involved in epileptogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Naturally occurring brain infections with neurocysticercosis offer a unique opportunity to develop treatments for one of the world's most common causes of epilepsy and for the development of more general antiepileptogenic treatments. Key advantages stem from the time course in which an acute seizure heralds a start of the epileptogenic process, and radiographic changes of calcification and perilesional edema provide biomarkers of a chronic epileptic state.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitic Disease, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Theodore E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.forename: Siddhartha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahanty
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Loeb
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Theodore
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Josemir W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Gagandeep
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Esper
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cavalheiro
authors.forename: Oscar H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Del Brutto
authors.forename: Osvaldo M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Takayanagui
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleury
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verastegui
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Preux
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montano
authors.forename: E Javier
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Pretell
authors.forename: A Clinton
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Armando E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.forename: Hector H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006099:Granuloma / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Epilepsy; Helminth; Seizure; Taenia solium