CEREBRAL CYSTICERCUS ARTERITIS - 5 ANGIOGRAPHIC CASES

Five patients, 3 men and 2 women (mean age 43 years), with active neurocysticercosis (NCC) complicated by major cerebral vessel arteritis are described. Three patients presented with stroke and 2 with subacute dementia. The diagnosis of arteritis was based on the presence of all the three following positive tests: (1) computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance images suggestive of NCC with cysticercus lesions neighbouring on the involved arteries, (2) cerebrospinal fluid with inflammatory cells and positive enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay for anticysticercus antibodies and (3) angiography suggesting arteritis. In our experience only the major cerebral vessels were involved, contrary to the data from the literature in which arteritis of the perforators is more frequent. Cysticercus arteritis must be considered a possible cause of stroke or subacute dementia in endemic areas of NCC.