Guideline on treatment of neurocysticercosis: some observations

Baird et al.[1] demonstrated that there are few evidence-based studies of antihelminthic treatment for neurocysticercosis (NC). This guideline has some limitations. The authors' procedure was to evaluate treatment based on the reduction of number of cysts. This method is misleading because if only one cyst out of many remains alive after treatment, it could prompt continued or recurrence of symptomsThe only valid criterion should be the disappearance of all viable parasites.[2] The authors' recommendation of albendazole treatment to reduce seizure frequency is questionable. The authors studied results that included patients with vesicular (live parasite) infections and patients with colloidal (degenerative/dead parasite) infections to evaluate treatment effect on seizures. It may be inaccurate to combine those studies because--considering the role of inflammation in …Baird et al.[1] demonstrated that there are few evidence-based studies of antihelminthic treatment for neurocysticercosis (NC). This guideline has some limitations. The authors' procedure was to evaluate treatment based on the reduction of number of cysts. This method is misleading because if only one cyst out of many remains alive after treatment, it could prompt continued or recurrence of symptomsThe only valid criterion should be the disappearance of all viable parasites.[2] The authors' recommendation of albendazole treatment to reduce seizure frequency is questionable. The authors studied results that included patients with vesicular (live parasite) infections and patients with colloidal (degenerative/dead parasite) infections to evaluate treatment effect on seizures. It may be inaccurate to combine those studies because--considering the role of inflammation in