Literature DB >> 23546371

Commentary.

Abhijit Das1.   

Abstract

Entities:  

Year:  2013        PMID: 23546371      PMCID: PMC3579069     

Source DB:  PubMed          Journal:  J Neurosci Rural Pract        ISSN: 0976-3155


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In this issue, Joshi and co-authors[1] describe a case of recurrent hydrocephalus due to recurrent intraventricular neurocysticercosis (NCC).[1] This case report highlights the protean manifestations and continuing public health burden of NCC: the most common helminthic infection of the nervous system.[2] The disease occurs when humans become intermediate hosts of Taenia solium by ingesting its eggs from contaminated food or, most often, directly from a taenia carrier by the fecal-to-oral route. Cysticerci may be located in brain parenchyma, subarachnoid space, ventricular system, or spinal cord, causing pathological changes that are responsible for the protean clinical presentation of NCC; largely depending on the load, type, size, location, and the stage of the development of the cysticerci, as well as on the host's immune response against the parasite. There is neither a pathognomonic feature nor a typical NCC syndrome.[3] Extraparenchymal disease varies in its symptoms and prognosis according to the location of the parasites. Among the extraparenchymal NCC, the intraventricular form of NCC (IVNCC) is seen in 15-54% cases and needs special mention as it has a rapidly progressive course and has a worse outcome compared to parenchymal disease.[4] The commonest site of occurrence is in fourth ventricle. Intracranial hypertension is a common manifestation and may be the result of a mass effect, distortion of the normal anatomy of CSF pathways, direct obstruction of the ventricular system by a cyst, or an inflammatory reaction in the meninges leading to arachnoiditis. Sometimes, an intermittent or positional CSF obstruction with increasing intracranial pressure produces relapsing/remitting symptoms (Bruns Syndrome).[5] Neuroimaging, mainly MRI, is mainstay of diagnosis of IVNCC. The treatment depends on clinical presentation, location within the ventricular system and the evolutionary stage of parasite. The decision to operate in a viable intraventricular cyst depends on the presence of: (i) mass effect, (ii) CSF obstruction, and (iii) fourth ventricular cysts. Recently, endoscopic approaches have been the favorable treatment option for IVNCC with hydrocephalus as the clinical results are far better than those for open approaches used previously. As this case report highlights, they are often lifesaving. However, the efficacy of the antihelminthic treatment in IVNCC is still controversial and may require further collaborative clinical trials. The ongoing problem of NCC merits special mention for developing countries like India where conditions favoring the transmission of T. solium are found: Deficient disposal of human feces, low levels of education, slaughtering of pigs without veterinary control, and the presence of free roaming pigs around households.[6] Importantly, this parasitic disease is potentially eradicable but to be effective eradication programs must be directed to all the targets for control: particularly human carriers of the adult tapeworm, infected pigs, and eggs in the environment. Overall, given the scale of potential public health and economic threat, NCC mandates a well-coordinated eradication program and increase in public awareness about this condition.
  6 in total

Review 1.  Brain cysticercosis.

Authors:  J Sotelo; O H Del Brutto
Journal:  Arch Med Res       Date:  2000 Jan-Feb       Impact factor: 2.235

Review 2.  Intraventricular neurocysticercosis: a review of current status and management issues.

Authors:  Sumit Sinha; Bhawani Shankar Sharma
Journal:  Br J Neurosurg       Date:  2011-12-15       Impact factor: 1.596

3.  Teaching NeuroImages: Bruns syndrome caused by intraventricular neurocysticercosis.

Authors:  Abhijit Das; Chandrasekharan Kesavadas; Venkataraman V Radhakrishnan; N Suresh Nair
Journal:  Neurology       Date:  2009-08-18       Impact factor: 9.910

Review 4.  Neurocysticercosis: updated concepts about an old disease.

Authors:  Hector H Garcia; Oscar H Del Brutto
Journal:  Lancet Neurol       Date:  2005-10       Impact factor: 44.182

5.  Repeated hydrocephalus in recurrent intraventricular neurocysticercosis: An uncommon presentation.

Authors:  Krishna C Joshi; Hukum Singh; Puja Sakhuja; Daljit Singh
Journal:  J Neurosci Rural Pract       Date:  2013-01

Review 6.  Neurocysticercosis: a review.

Authors:  Oscar H Del Brutto
Journal:  ScientificWorldJournal       Date:  2012-01-04
  6 in total

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