Praziquantel for Cysticercosis of the Brain Parenchyma

To the Editor: The recent study by Sotelo et al. (April 19 issue) 1 clearly demonstrates the efficacy of praziquantel in the treatment of neurocysticercosis. Their results, however, confirm our theory of the necessity for simultaneous administration of steroids in patients treated with this drug. 2 Ninety-two per cent of the patients in this study experienced side effects during treatment, including exacerbation of seizures, headaches, and the development of intracranial hypertension. These were probably manifestations of the cerebrospinal-fluid–reaction syndrome, which is hypothesized to be an inflammatory response to dead or dying larvae. Despite the authors' concern about the potential for confounding the . . . No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.