Article type: Review Article
Article
title: Neurocysticercosis
and movement disorders: a literature review
Journal: Brain Circulation
Year: 2020
Authors: Jamir Pitton Rissardo, Ana Letícia Fornari
Caprara, Ícaro Durante
E-mail: jamirrissardo@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a specific form of
cysticercosis that affects the central nervous system. It is caused by the
tapeworm Taenia solium, which is often found in pigs. NCC is considered one of
the “great simulator/mimickers” of other diseases. In this context, movement
disorders (MDs) can occur in a small percentage of individuals with NCC. This
review aims to evaluate the clinicoepidemiological profile, pathological
mechanisms, and historical features of NCC-associated MD. Relevant reports in
six databases were identified and assessed by two reviewers without language
restriction. A total of 71 reports containing 148 individuals who developed an
MD related to NCC were identified. NCC-associated MD included parkinsonism (n =
47), ataxia (n = 32), chorea (n = 18), dystonia (n = 13), tremor (n = 8),
myokymia (n = 6), myoclonus (n = 4), ballism (n = 1), tics (n = 1), and others
(n = 18). The mean and median ages were 36.58 (standard deviation: 20.51) and
35 years (age range: 1–88 years), respectively. There was a slight predominance
of female sex (52.17%). On follow-up, 58.90% of the individuals had a full
recovery; two deaths were reported. We believe that the majority of cases
reported were only diagnosed because patients had classical clinical manifestations
generally investigated by neuroimaging, resulting in incidental findings
suggestive of NCC, which were later supported by laboratory examinations.
Therefore, the association between NCC and MD is probably underreported.
Clinicians should be wary of this association, mainly in endemic areas for
cysticercosis.
Keywords: Chorea, cysticercosis, dystonia,
literature review, movement disorder, myoclonus, neurocysticercosis,
parkinsonism, taenia solium
Full text available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7821807/
DOI
10.4103/bc.bc_48_20
Citation
Rissardo JP, Caprara AL, Durante Í.
Neurocysticercosis and movement disorders: a literature review. Brain Circ
2020;6:225-41
