Advances in the diagnosis and management of neurocysticercosis

Jose A. Serpa, Linda S. Yancey, Arthur Clinton White

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis is the most common cause of late-onset epilepsy in developing countries. The larval stage of Taenia solium is the causative agent of the disease. Recent advances in neuroimaging and serologic diagnostic techniques have led to increased recognition of its importance, but its pathogenesis is just beginning to be clarified. Experts now agree that the clinical manifestations, pathogenic mechanisms and optimal treatment vary with the number of parasites, their location and the degree of host inflammation. Symptomatic therapy (i.e., antiepileptic medications and, when indicated, surgery) is critically important but there are also important roles for antiparasitic and antiinflammatory drugs. Neurocysticercosis is a potentially eradicable disease but this is probably unlikely to be achieved in the short term.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1051-1061
Number of pages11
JournalExpert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy
Volume4
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2006

Keywords

  • Albendazole
  • Cysticercosis
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Neurocysticercosis
  • Seizure
  • Taenia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Microbiology

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