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Effect of Anticysticercal Treatment on the Prognosis of Epilepsy in Neurocysticercosis: A Pilot Trial
Author(s) -
Medina Marco T.,
Genton Pierre,
Montoya María C.,
Córdova Sergio,
Dravet Charlotte,
Sotelo Julio
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1993.tb02128.x
Subject(s) - neurocysticercosis , epilepsy , medicine , albendazole , praziquantel , anticonvulsant , pediatrics , surgery , psychiatry , immunology , helminths , schistosomiasis
Summary: Epilepsy secondary to active or inactive neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a major public health problem in Latin American countries. In an open‐label pilot trial, we evaluated and followed (mean = 13 months) 16 patients with epilepsy resulting from active NCC which was treated with anticisticercal (ACC) drugs. These patients were aged 12–68 years with confirmed active NCC and seizures not controlled by adequate antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. Patients were treated with albendazole or praziquantel (ALB and PZQ, ACC drugs) and AED monotherapy. The number of NCC cysts was markedly reduced by ACC therapy. Thirteen patients remained seizure‐free and 2 had only one seizure during follow‐up. Our data suggest a positive effect of ACC treatment on the prognosis of epilepsy caused by active NCC, but a prospective, double‐blind, controlled study with long‐term follow‐up must be performed to determine whether ACC therapy improves long‐term seizure control.