Cysticercosis medical therapy: Difference between revisions

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Not all cases of cysticercosis are treated and the use of albendazole and praziquantel is controversial.
Not all cases of cysticercosis are treated and the use of albendazole and praziquantel is controversial.


=== Pharmacotherapy ===
===Neurocysticercosis===
Infections are generally treated with [[antiparasitic]] drugs in combination with [[antiinflammatory]] drugs.


Several studies suggest that albendazole (conventional dosage 15 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses for 15 days) may be superior to [[praziquantel]] (50 mg/kg/day for 15 days) for the treatment of [[neurocysticercosis]]. In comparative clinical trials, albendazole was equivalent or superior to praziquantel in reducing the number of live cysticerci. A recent placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial demonstrated that albendazole treatment (400 mg twice daily plus 6 mg [[dexamethasone]] QD for 10 days) significantly decreased generalized seizures over 30 months of follow-up.
Neurocysticercosis most often presents as [[headache]]s and acute onset [[seizure]]s, thus the immediate mainstay of therapy is [[anticonvulsant]] medications. Once the seizures have been brought under control, [[antihelminthic]] treatments may be undertaken. The decision to treat with [[antiparasitic therapy]] is complex and based on the stage and number of cysts present, their location, and the patient's specific clinical presentation.<ref>{{cite journal|title=New developments in the management of neurocysticercosis|doi=10.1086/597758|year=2009|author=White, Jr., A. Clinton|journal=The Journal of Infectious Diseases|volume=199|pages=1261|pmid=19358667|issue=9}}</ref> Antiparasitic treatment should be given in combination with [[corticosteroids]] and anticonvulsants to reduce inflammation surrounding the cysts and lower the risk of seizures. [[Albendazole]] is generally preferable over [[praziquantel]] due to its lower cost and fewer drug interactions.<ref name="nine">Dimitrios K. Matthaiou, Georgios Panos, Eleni S. Adamidi,Matthew E. Falagas “Albendazole versus Praziquantel in the Treatment of Neurocysticercosis: A Meta-analysis of Comparative Trials” PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2008 March; 2(3): e194</ref>


More prolonged treatment courses (e.g. 30 days of [[albendazole]], which may be repeated) may be needed for extraparenchymal or extensive disease. Albendazole is more likely to be effective against extraparenchymal forms of the disease because of better penetration than praziquantel into the CSF. Another possible contributing factor to the greater efficacy of albendazole is that serum and [[CSF]] metabolite levels appear to be potentiated by concomitant corticosteroids, whereas [[praziquantel]] levels are depressed. Albendazole, unlike praziquantel, has been reported to be effective in giant [[subarachnoid]] cysticerci (racemose cysts) and in [[extraocular muscle]] cysts. Both drugs appear to have a role in therapy, since cases that have not responded to one of the drugs have been reported to respond to the other.
Asymptomatic cysts, such as those discovered incidentally on neuroimaging done for another reason, may never lead to symptomatic disease and in many cases do not require therapy.
 
Calcified cysts have already died and [[Involution_(medicine)|involuted]]. Further antiparasitic therapy will be of no benefit.
===Ophthalmic cysticercosis===
In ophthalmic disease, surgical removal is necessary for cysts within the [[eye]] itself while antihelminth drugs with [[steroid]]s alone might be sufficient to treat cysts outside globe.<ref name="three" /> Treatment recommendations for subcutaneous cysticercosis includes surgery, [[praziquantel]] and [[albendazole].<ref name="eight" />
===Subcutaneous cysticercosis===
In general, subcutaneous disease does not need specific therapy. Painful or bothersome cysts can be surgically excised.


==External Link==
==External Link==

Revision as of 17:32, 26 November 2012

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Overview

Medical Therapy

Not all cases of cysticercosis are treated and the use of albendazole and praziquantel is controversial.

Neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis most often presents as headaches and acute onset seizures, thus the immediate mainstay of therapy is anticonvulsant medications. Once the seizures have been brought under control, antihelminthic treatments may be undertaken. The decision to treat with antiparasitic therapy is complex and based on the stage and number of cysts present, their location, and the patient's specific clinical presentation.[1] Antiparasitic treatment should be given in combination with corticosteroids and anticonvulsants to reduce inflammation surrounding the cysts and lower the risk of seizures. Albendazole is generally preferable over praziquantel due to its lower cost and fewer drug interactions.[2]

Asymptomatic cysts, such as those discovered incidentally on neuroimaging done for another reason, may never lead to symptomatic disease and in many cases do not require therapy.

Calcified cysts have already died and involuted. Further antiparasitic therapy will be of no benefit.

Ophthalmic cysticercosis

In ophthalmic disease, surgical removal is necessary for cysts within the eye itself while antihelminth drugs with steroids alone might be sufficient to treat cysts outside globe.[3] Treatment recommendations for subcutaneous cysticercosis includes surgery, praziquantel and [[albendazole].[4]

Subcutaneous cysticercosis

In general, subcutaneous disease does not need specific therapy. Painful or bothersome cysts can be surgically excised.

External Link

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cysticercosis/health_professionals/index.html#tx

References

  1. White, Jr., A. Clinton (2009). "New developments in the management of neurocysticercosis". The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 199 (9): 1261. doi:10.1086/597758. PMID 19358667.
  2. Dimitrios K. Matthaiou, Georgios Panos, Eleni S. Adamidi,Matthew E. Falagas “Albendazole versus Praziquantel in the Treatment of Neurocysticercosis: A Meta-analysis of Comparative Trials” PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2008 March; 2(3): e194

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