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. 2023 May 1;108(6):1188-1191.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0791. Print 2023 Jun 7.

Older Age in Subarachnoid Neurocysticercosis Reflects a Long Prepatent Period

Fernando Nateros  1   2 , Edith Saenz  2 , Herbert Saavedra  2 , Isidro Gonzales  2   3 , E Javier Pretell  4 , Erika Perez  2 , Yesenia Castillo  5 , Javier A Bustos  2   5 , Hector H Garcia  2   5 ; Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru
Affiliations

Older Age in Subarachnoid Neurocysticercosis Reflects a Long Prepatent Period

Fernando Nateros et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. .

Abstract

Patients with subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (NCC) are usually older than those with parenchymal disease. Whether this difference reflects a prolonged presymptomatic period or a delay in diagnosis is not clear. From 408 eligible patients, we retrospectively compared the age at symptom onset in 140 patients diagnosed with parenchymal (pure viable or pure calcified) and subarachnoid NCC who had a confirmatory image available not more than 2 years after the beginning of symptoms. Patients with mixed (parenchymal and subarachnoid) NCC or those with parenchymal cysts at different stages (viable and/or degenerating and/or calcified) were not included. After controlling by sex and residence in rural endemic regions, the mean age at symptom onset in patients with subarachnoid disease was 13.69 years older than those with viable parenchymal disease. A long incubation period is a major contributing factor to older age at presentation in subarachnoid NCC, independent of delayed diagnosis or access to care.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Study flowchart. NCC = neurocysticercosis. * Also evaluated as an additional sensitivity analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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