EFFECT OF ANTICYSTICERCAL TREATMENT ON THE PROGNOSIS OF EPILEPSY IN NEUROCYSTICERCOSIS - A PILOT TRIAL

Epilepsy secondary to active or inactive neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a major public health problem in Latin American countries. In an open-l abel pilot trial, we evaluated and followed (mean = 13 months) 16 pati ents with epilepsy resulting from active NCC which was treated with an ticisticercal (ACC) drugs. These patients were aged 12-68 years with c onfirmed active NCC and seizures not controlled by adequate antiepilep tic drug (AED) therapy. Patients were treated with albendazole or praz iquantel (ALB and PZQ, ACC drugs) and AED monotherapy. The number of N CC cysts was markedly reduced by ACC therapy. Thirteen patients remain ed seizure-free and 2 had only one seizure during follow-up. Our data suggest a positive effect of ACC treatment on the prognosis of epileps y caused by active NCC, but a prospective, double-blind, controlled st udy with longterm follow-up must be performed to determine whether ACC therapy improves long-term seizure control.