[L-dopa sensitive Parkinsonism in neurocysticercosis]

Neurocysticercosis (NC) is a chronic parasitary disease that may have different neurological manifestations, such as seizures, dementia or obstructive hydrocephalus. On rare occasions, pictures secondary to hydrocephalia may occur with Parkinsonian syndrome.

We present the case of a 29-year old woman with serologically confirmed NC and obstructive hydrocephalia secondary to a cyst in the IV ventricle. The patient required repeated ventricle-peritoneal shunt replacement because of valvular malfunction and obstructive hydrocephalia. She developed Parkinsonian's syndrome, which subsided after combined treatment with cysticidal drugs and L-dopa.

Parkinsonian syndrome is an atypical presentation in NC. In this case, the above-mentioned profile is found within the context of multiple valvular malfunctions who nature is reversible after appropriate treatment. It seems to be related with increases in intraventricular cerebrospinal fluid pressure. We can conclude that Parkinsonian syndromes may be one more expression of NC. This acquires greater importance according to its context, in addition to the limited presence of similar cases in our environment in the literature.