[Detection of CAg in CSF of 231 cerebral cysticercosis patients]

The results of detection of circulating antigen (CAg) in cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) of 231 cerebral cysticercosis patients with McAb (4F8)--based ELISA were reported and compared with the case histories, clinical manifestations and CT scans. No relationship was found between CAg detected in CSF of these cases and history of taeniasis. However, the positive rate of CAg in cerebral cysticercosis patients with subcutaneous nodules was found significantly higher than those in cases with simple cerebral cysticercosis and in cases with subcutaneous nodules disappeared after anti-Cysticercus therapy before CSF collection. The results of CAg detection in CSF were related with the CT findings as well as the stage of the disease. It is thus indicated that McAb (4F8)-based ELISA might be useful not only for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis, but also for the evaluation of efficacy of anti-Cysticercus therapy.