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Is the Presence of Depression Independent from Signs of Disease Activity in Patients with Neurocysticercosis?

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Abstract

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by Taenia solium metacestodes. Depression is present in 53–85% of the NCC patients. The present study was aimed to evaluate the correlation of signs of NCC activity (evolution phase of NCC cysts and CSF characteristics) with depression. The study group consisted of 65 patients subdivided into two groups: NCC with epilepsy (48) and NCC without epilepsy [17]. Depression was assessed and quantified by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-21) and compared with CSF inflammatory characteristics (increase of WBCs and total protein) and presence of calcifications or cysts. There was no difference between the scores of depression in the group with CNS calcifications or cysts. CSF signs of active disease, specifically increase of CSF TP, were significantly more frequent in patients with mild depression and in non-depressant patients. The depression scores were inversely proportional to the CSF TP levels in the groups with depression. Although immunological factors could be associated with the development of depression, the data above lead us to make assumptions about the association of other factors such as genetic predisposition, or social and cultural factors.

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Abbreviations

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

HCV:

Hepatitis C virus

HRSD:

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression

IL:

Interleukin

LP:

Lumbar puncture

NCC:

Neurocysticercosis

TP:

Total protein

WBC:

White blood cell

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurologist, Virology Section, Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas–UFPR, Setor Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Virologia, Rua Padre Camargo, 280, Curitiba, PR, 80060-240, Brazil

    Sergio Monteiro de Almeida

  2. Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

    Sergio Monteiro de Almeida

  3. Occupational Therapist, Hospital de Clínicas–UFPR, Setor Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Virologia, Rua Padre Camargo, 280, Curitiba, PR, 80060-240, Brazil

    Solange Aparecida Gurjão

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  1. Sergio Monteiro de Almeida
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  2. Solange Aparecida Gurjão
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Correspondence to Sergio Monteiro de Almeida.

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de Almeida, S.M., Gurjão, S.A. Is the Presence of Depression Independent from Signs of Disease Activity in Patients with Neurocysticercosis?. J Community Health 36, 693–697 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9362-x

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