A case report of remarkable improvement of motor disturbances with L-dopa in a patient with post-diffuse axonal injury

Brain Dev. 1998 Mar;20(2):124-6. doi: 10.1016/s0387-7604(98)00004-7.

Abstract

A 9-year-old girl with rigidospastic quadriplegia as post-traumatic sequela was reported. The distribution of lesions observed on a MRI implied diffuse axonal injury; involvement of the substantia nigra was also detected. L-Dopa administration was remarkably effective for relief of the rigidity. As a result, she became able to walk on her knees and communicate by writing letters. L-Dopa administration should be considered for patients who show rigidity as sequela of diffuse axonal injury with involvement of the substantia nigra.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Axons / pathology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Injuries / diagnosis
  • Brain Injuries / drug therapy
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Child
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Quadriplegia / drug therapy*
  • Quadriplegia / etiology
  • Quadriplegia / pathology
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology

Substances

  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Levodopa