Comparison of prevalence of neurocysticercotic calcifications on CT scan in patients with epilepsy and patients with headache

• Grant number: 13/21265-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Cendes
• Grantee: Mateus de Oliveira Taveira
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07559-3 - BRAINN - The Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Introduction: In Latin America, the prevalence of epilepsy is higher than in developed countries. Furthermore, neurocysticercosis is the biggest risk factor for late onset epilepsy in countries that are endemic for Taenia solium. In developed countries, neurocysticercosis' relevance has been growing owing to immigration flows. Association between seizures and neurocysticercosis is well established during its transitional phase. However, little is known about its exact pathogenesis in seizures or epilepsy. Even more unexplored is the role of sequelar calcified lesions on the pathogenesis of epilepsy, because of the scarcity of prospective studies regarding the theme.Objectives: The present study aims to compare the frequency of calcified lesions suggestive of neurocysticercosis in computed tomography scans between patients with epilepsy and patients with headache. Through analysis of the prevalence of calcifications in patients with and without epilepsy and its association with clinical data we aim to best comprehend the role and importance of neurocysticercosis in epilepsy's pathogenesis.Subjects and methods: Patients from Headache Clinics and Epilepsy Clinics of University of Campinas General Hospital will be analyzed. All patients that have available brain computed tomography (CT) scans and do not fulfill any exclusion criteria will be included in the study. The subjects will be divided according to the presence or absence of epilepsy and the presence of calcified lesions suggestive of neurocysticercosis in their CT scans.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TAVEIRA, MATEUS DE OLIVEIRA; MORITA, MARCIA ELISABETE; YASUDA, CLARISSA LIN; COAN, ANA CAROLINA; SECOLIN, RODRIGO; CUNHA DA COSTA, ALBERTO LUIZ; CENDES, FERNANDO. Neurocysticercotic Calcifications and Hippocampal Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 7 JUL 1 2015. Web of Science Citations: 8.