Unsuccessful treatment with levodopa of a parkinsonian patient with calcification of the basal ganglia.
A patient aged 67 had suffered from hypoparathyroidism (tetany and cataracts) following thyroidectomy at the age of 20, although treated with AT 10. During the last few years there had been a change of gait to small steps and general retardation. Nocturnal epileptic attacks occurred in the last year which led to the admission to hospital where a well developed parkinsonian syndrome without tremor was observed. X-rays of the skull, including computed tomograms, revealed calcification of the basal ganglia and dentate nuclei. Treatment with levodopa was ineffective. The mechanism for this is discussed.
D000368:Aged; D001479:Basal Ganglia; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D007980:Levodopa