Abstract

Context (Background): Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic disease of the nervous system in humans and the single most common cause of acquired epileptic seizures in the developing world. The interaction between seizures and the autonomic nervous system is very complex and is likely to be multifactorial, involving both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. Aims: To evaluate interictal autonomic functions in patients with epilepsy secondary to neurocysticercosis, a potentially eradicable disease in our country. Settings and design: A case control study was carried out in Physiology and Neurology departments of Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana. Materials and method: Fifty patients with previously diagnosed epilepsy secondary to neurocysticercosis were included in the study along with fifty healthy control subjects. After taking a history of the epileptic disorder and its treatment were subjected to cardiovascular function. Statistical analysis: We have analyzed data using ANOVA, students ‘t’ test and Chi square test. Results and Conclusion: The present study suggests that in patients of neurocysticercosis, in the interictal period, the cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is primarily parasympathetic in nature with sparing of sympathetic functions.

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