J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1997 Apr;15(2):286-299.

Clinical syndrome of dystonia-parkinsonism

• Kim YD
• Lee MS
• Park JH
• Chang DI

Abstract

We report 11 patients who developed dystonia and parkinsonian symptoms and signs. All of them developed the onset of parkinsonian symptoms 1 month to about 50 years(median: 2 yrs) after the onset of dystonia. Six of 11 patients developed dystonia affecting a hand; two affecting a foot; one affecting the neck; one affecting bilateral hands and a foot; one affecting a foot, trunk and neck Their parkinsonian symptoms had progressed very slowly and responded well to the levodopa treatment. Beside, none of them had clinical features suggestive of parkinsonian-plus syndrome. These findings suggest that they may have pathological changes confined to the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system as those with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. However, no change or worsening of dystonia after levodopa treatment suggest that they may have additional lesions out-side of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. More pathological studies and functional brain imaging studies are needed to define the exact pathogenesis of clinical syndrome of dystonia-parkinsonism.

MeSH Terms

Dystonia
Foot
Functional Neuroimaging
Hand
Humans
Levodopa
Neck
Parkinson Disease
Levodopa