Back to Search
Start Over
MRI findings in people with epilepsy and nodding syndrome in an area endemic for onchocerciasis: an observational study.
- Source :
-
African health sciences [Afr Health Sci] 2013 Jun; Vol. 13 (2), pp. 529-40. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background: Onchocerciasis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. The debate on a potential causal relationship between Onchocerca volvulus and epilepsy has taken a new direction in the light of the most recent epidemic of nodding syndrome.<br />Objective: To document MRI changes in people with different types of epilepsy and investigate whether there is an association with O. volvulus infection.<br />Methods: In a prospective study in southern Tanzania, an area endemic for O. volvulus with a high prevalence of epilepsy and nodding syndrome, we performed MRI on 32 people with epilepsy, 12 of which suffered from nodding syndrome. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of O. volvulus was performed in skin and CSF.<br />Results: The most frequent abnormalities seen on MRI was atrophy (twelve patients (37.5%)) followed by intraparenchymal pathologies such as changes in the hippocampus (nine patients (28.1%)), gliotic lesions (six patients (18.8%)) and subcortical signal abnormalities (three patients (9.4%)). There was an overall trend towards an association of intraparenchymal cerebral pathologies and infection with O. volvulus based on skin PCR (Fisher's Exact Test p=0.067) which was most pronounced in children and adolescents with nodding syndrome compared to those with other types of epilepsy (Fisher's Exact Test, p=0.083). Contrary to skin PCR results, PCR of CSF was negative in all patients.<br />Conclusion: The observed trend towards an association of intraparenchymal cerebral pathological results on MRI and a positive skin PCR for O. volvulus despite negative PCR of CSF is intriguing and deserves further attention.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Animals
Female
Humans
Male
Onchocerca volvulus isolation & purification
Onchocerciasis cerebrospinal fluid
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prospective Studies
Tanzania epidemiology
Young Adult
Brain Diseases diagnosis
Central Nervous System Helminthiasis diagnosis
Endemic Diseases
Epilepsy classification
Epilepsy pathology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Nodding Syndrome
Onchocerciasis diagnosis
Onchocerciasis epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1729-0503
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- African health sciences
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24235964
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v13i2.51