Pharmacokinetic variability of anthelmintics: implications for the treatment of neurocysticercosis.

Human neurocysticercosis is a severe disease caused by the installation of Taenia solium larvae in the CNS. A wide variety of clinical manifestations are related to neurocysticercosis. These are determined by a number of important factors, including the number and location of the cysts, the stage of cystercerci and the host response to the infection. Epilepsy, focal neurological signs and increased intracranial pressure are the most common clinical manifestations of the disease. Neurocysticercosis is still deeply rooted in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Albendazole and praziquantel are the drugs used in the treatment of cysticercosis. Both drugs have limited solubility and extensive metabolism, and thus great interindividual variability in plasma levels is found. This article focuses on current knowledge of the pharmacokinetics and the drug interactions of the anthelmintic drugs and the perspectives in the treatment of this parasitic disease.