Deaths associated with cysticercosis. Report of three cases and review of the literature.

There is significant concern about an increased risk of death in patients with neurocysticercosis who receive antihelminthic agents. To clarify the risk factors for death associated with cysticercosis, the authors identified all cases of mortality over a 5-year period in patients in whom cysticercosis was diagnosed and who were discharged from a major metropolitan medical center. In addition, they reviewed the literature to delineate risk factors associated with cysticercosis-related death, concluding that the risk of death is highest in patients with heavy cyst burdens and those surgically treated for intracranial hypertension. Death is rare in properly selected patients with parenchymal disease in whom the cyst burden is low and intracranial hypertension is absent. The most common causes of death appear to be 1) intracranial hypertension in surgically treated patients and 2) shunt infection.