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Pre-treatment with corticosteroids and a single cycle of high dose albendazole for subarachnoidal cysticercosis
  1. C Márquez-Caraveo,
  2. F Góngora-Rivera,
  3. J Santos Zambrano,
  4. R Hernández,
  5. J L Soto-Hernández
  1. Department of Neurology, Infectious Disease and Emergency Room of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suarez, Mexico City, Mexico
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr J L Soto-Hernández
 Department of Infectious Disease, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suárez, Insurgentes Sur 3877, La Fama, Tlalpan, CP 14269, Mexico, DF; sotohe51prodigy.net.mx

https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2003.023572

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    Cysticercosis is a common parasitic disease of the central nervous system and a pleomorphic neurological disorder. It is an endemic problem in developing countries and is now increasing in industrialised nations.1 In Mexico neurocysticercosis is one of the main reasons for neurological consultation, and the first cause of epilepsy in adults.2 The treatment of neurocysticercosis is controversial and depends on the clinical and neuroimaging features, as well as the extent and severity of the associated inflammatory reaction.3 Basal subarachnoidal cysticercosis and racemose disease of sylvian fissure may behave aggressively producing intracranial hypertension, obstructive hydrocephalus, chronic arachnoiditis, vasculitis, and cerebral infarctions.4 Subarachnoidal cysticercosis may have a chronic course and a poor prognosis, and is still treated surgically. In a recent open trial of 33 patients with subarachnoidal cysts of at least 50 mm in diameter, treatment with albendazole at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day during 28 days produced an adequate response in 12 patients (36%). The remaining 21 patients (64%) required repeated courses of albendazole and 10 treatments …

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