Corticosteroids to Reduce Frequency of Seizures in Neurocysticercosis Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with intraparenchymal NCC with 20 or fewer active cysts, as confirmed by enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) * Diagnosed with epilepsy secondary to NCC, with history of one or more spontaneous seizures within the 6 months prior to study entry * Willingness to be hospitalized for a minimum of 2 weeks for this study * PPD negative OR negative smears for tuberculosis (TB) if PPD positive * Willing to use acceptable forms of contraception during the study and for at least 1 month after albendazole therapy Exclusion Criteria: * Primary generalized seizures not caused by NCC * Subarachnoid or ventricular NCC * Any vesicular lesion greater than 2 cm in diameter * Previous therapy with albendazole or praziquantel within 2 years of study entry. Patients who have previously received single-dose albendazole for intestinal parasites are not excluded. * Intracranial hypertension, as confirmed by CT or MRI * History of status epilepticus * Focal neurological defects * Unstable or consistently abnormal vital signs (e.g., body temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure) * Cysts in critical regions, including brainstem or the eyes * Pulmonary TB * History of TB in the patient or history of TB in close contact of patient * Chest x-ray suggestive of past or current TB * Diabetes * Systemic conditions (e.g., chronic kidney failure, liver disease, heart failure, steroid-dependent immune diseases) other than NCC that may interfere with the study * Predicted survival time of less than 1 year * Inability to undergo CT or MRI * Hypersensitivity to albendazole, antiepileptic drugs, or contrast * Hypertension at rest * Require corticosteroids, received corticosteroids in the 4 weeks prior to study entry, or received corticosteroids for 9 or more days within the 6 months prior to study entry * Other CNS processes that may interfere with study assessments * Pregnancy or breastfeeding