Parenchymatous cerebral neurocysticercosis in a quadriplegic patient

Objective: To present and discuss a case of cerebral neurocysticercosis in a quadriplegic patient. Design: Case report of a case of neurocysticercosis in a high level spinal cord injury (SCI) patient who developed episodes of autonomic dysreflexia and orthostatic hypotension associated with transient neurologic deficits and seizures. Setting: Spinal Cord Unit of the University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland. Subject: Single patient case report. Main outcome measure: Clinical and radiological magnetic resonance imaging follow-up of the patient between July 1995 and October 1997. Results: Treatment of cysticercosis with praziquantel relieved the patient from autonomic dysreflexia, symptomatic orthostatic hypotension, transitory neurological deficits and seizures. Conclusion: Diagnosis of neurocysticercosis in a quadriplegic patient might be difficult because of frequent overlaps with some usual symptoms occurring in high level SCI, mostly autonomic dysreflexia and orthostatic hypotension. Neurocysticercosis should be kept in mind when a SCI patient living in, or coming from endemic zones presents with new neurological abnormalities and seizures, Magnetic resonance imaging appears to be more sensitive than computerised tomography to confirm the diagnosis of active cysticercosis. Treatment with praziquantel associated with cimetidine to increase the drug bioavailability and prednisone to reduce the inflammatory reaction gives good results.