Postvaccinal parkinsonism

Mov Disord. 1992;7(2):178-80. doi: 10.1002/mds.870070213.

Abstract

A 5-year-old boy, with a history of fever beginning 15 days after a vaccination for measles, developed a rigid-akinetic syndrome 3 days after the fever began. A spinal tap obtained 1 week after the onset of fever showed pleocytosis with a monocellular pattern. A CT scan of the head and EEG did not disclose any abnormality. An MRI performed 3 months after the event, however, showed clear-cut evidence of bilateral substantia nigra lesions, suggesting secondary gliosis. The response to levodopa was good, but adverse reactions appeared early. The child is now 7 years old. Bromocriptine, deprenyl, and levodopa have produced a remarkable improvement of the parkinsonian features.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bromocriptine / administration & dosage
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / diagnosis*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / administration & dosage
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Measles Vaccine / administration & dosage
  • Measles Vaccine / adverse effects*
  • Neurologic Examination / drug effects
  • Parkinson Disease, Postencephalitic / diagnosis*
  • Parkinson Disease, Postencephalitic / drug therapy
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology

Substances

  • Measles Vaccine
  • Bromocriptine
  • Levodopa