Encephalopathy caused by visceral larva migrans due to Ascaris suum

We described a patient with encephalopathy associated with visceral larva m igrans (VLM) caused by Ascaris suum. He suffered from drowsiness, quadripar esis, eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE levels. Brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed multiple cerebral cortical and white matter lesions. Serological tests indicated recent infection with A. suum. Pulse steroid th erapy relieved the patient's central nervous system symptoms and marked imp rovement of lesions on brain MR images. We concluded that the encephalopath y in this patient was probably caused by VLM due to Ascaris suum. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.