[A case of Parkinson's disease following dystonia]

Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 2016 Sep 29;56(9):600-4. doi: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.cn-000890. Epub 2016 Aug 6.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Parkinsonism and dystonia are both disorders of the extrapyramidal motor system, and some patients exhibit a complex of the two symptoms. Although several reports have referred to the coexistence of these disorders as parkinsonian disorders with dystonia, in the majority of cases, dystonia appeared after parkinsonism. DAT-scan is useful for the early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other types of parkinsonism such as dementia with Lewy bodies. This case report describes a 67-year old woman diagnosed with axial dystonia without parkinsonism 6 years previously, which had worsened despite treatment with Botulinum toxin injections, and hindered the patient's gait. The patient visited the hospital because of gait disturbances and DAT-scan showed a levodopa transducer decrease in the putamen. A few weeks later, she was re-admitted to hospital and exhibited Parkinsonism. Levodopa improved the gait disturbances but axial dystonia was unchanged, and a clinical diagnosis of PD was made. In the authors' opinion, this was a rare case of parkinsonian disorders with dystonia, characterized by the development of PD after dystonia. DAT-scan may be helpful for the diagnosis of patients with parkinsonian disorders with dystonia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Dystonia / diagnostic imaging
  • Dystonia / drug therapy
  • Dystonia / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis*
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Radionuclide Imaging / methods

Substances

  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Levodopa