Zaida Herrador1, José A Pérez-Molina2, César Augusto Henríquez Camacho3, Azucena Rodriguez-Guardado4, Pau Bosch-Nicolau5, Eva Calabuig6, Angel Domínguez-Castellano7, María Asunción Pérez-Jacoiste8, M Concepción Ladrón de Guevara9, Ana Mena10, Jose Manuel Ruiz-Giardin11, Diego Torrús12, Philip Wikman-Jorgensen13, Agustín Benito14, Rogelio López-Vélez2. 1. Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Network Biomedical Research on Tropical Diseases (RICET in Spanish), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: zherrador@isciii.es. 2. Network Biomedical Research on Tropical Diseases (RICET in Spanish), Madrid, Spain; National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRICYS, Madrid, Spain. 3. National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRICYS, Madrid, Spain. 4. Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes, Gijón, Spain. 5. Hospital Universitario de Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. 6. Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain. 7. Hospital Universitario de Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain. 8. Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain. 9. Hospital Universitario La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. 10. Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma Mallorca, Spain. 11. Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain. 12. Hospital Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. 13. Hospital Universitario de Elda, Alicante, Spain; Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region, FISABIO, Spain. 14. Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Network Biomedical Research on Tropical Diseases (RICET in Spanish), Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic neurological disease worldwide and a major cause of epilepsy. Spain is the country reporting the highest number of NCC imported cases in Europe. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective case series of NCC patients registered in the +REDIVI Network from October 1, 2009 to July 2018. A specific questionnaire, including clinical and diagnostic characteristics, was created and sent to the collaborator centers. RESULTS: 46 cases were included in the analysis. 55% were male, mean age of 40 years. 95.6% were migrants. The median duration since migration from an endemic area was 10 years. Predominant nationalities were Ecuadorians (50%) and Bolivians (30.4%). Frequent locations were parenchymal (87%), subarachnoid (26.1%) and intraventricular cysts (10.9%). Serological analysis was performed in 91.3%, being 54.8% positive. Most prevalent clinical manifestations were persistent headache (60.9%), epilepsy (43.5%) and visual changes (13%). Patients were mainly treated with albendazole (76.1%), corticosteroids (67.4%), and anticonvulsionants (52.2%). 82.5% had a favorable clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Most NCC cases were long-standing migrants. Few clinical differences were observed depending on the cysticerci location. The treatment was often not according to current recommendations, and no uniform criteria were followed when it came to the therapeutic regimen. NCC case management in Spain (including clinician awareness and laboratory capacity improvements) needs to be strengthened.
BACKGROUND:Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic neurological disease worldwide and a major cause of epilepsy. Spain is the country reporting the highest number of NCC imported cases in Europe. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective case series of NCC patients registered in the +REDIVI Network from October 1, 2009 to July 2018. A specific questionnaire, including clinical and diagnostic characteristics, was created and sent to the collaborator centers. RESULTS: 46 cases were included in the analysis. 55% were male, mean age of 40 years. 95.6% were migrants. The median duration since migration from an endemic area was 10 years. Predominant nationalities were Ecuadorians (50%) and Bolivians (30.4%). Frequent locations were parenchymal (87%), subarachnoid (26.1%) and intraventricular cysts (10.9%). Serological analysis was performed in 91.3%, being 54.8% positive. Most prevalent clinical manifestations were persistent headache (60.9%), epilepsy (43.5%) and visual changes (13%). Patients were mainly treated with albendazole (76.1%), corticosteroids (67.4%), and anticonvulsionants (52.2%). 82.5% had a favorable clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Most NCC cases were long-standing migrants. Few clinical differences were observed depending on the cysticerci location. The treatment was often not according to current recommendations, and no uniform criteria were followed when it came to the therapeutic regimen. NCC case management in Spain (including clinician awareness and laboratory capacity improvements) needs to be strengthened.
Authors: Zhe Wang; Roxanna M Garcia; Hanalise V Huff; Milagros Niquen-Jimenez; Luis A Marcos; Sandi K Lam Journal: Pathog Glob Health Date: 2021-12-20 Impact factor: 3.735