Dopamine agonists suppress visual-cortical reflex myoclonus.
Two patients with a diagnosis of olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy developed cortical reflex myoclonus to visual (flash) and somaesthetic stimuli. Oral treatment with levodopacarbidopa (1000/100 mg) or subcutaneous administration of apomorphine (1 mg) abolished the visually-triggered myoclonus, without modifying reflex myoclonus to electrical or tactile stimulation. Intravenous administration of lisuride (0.1 mg) produced a marked reduction in both types of reflex myoclonus. These results indicate a selective inhibitory effect of dopamine agonist drugs on visual reflex myoclonus of cortical origin.
D000368:Aged; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001284:Atrophy; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004576:Electromyography; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004873:Ergolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008090:Lisuride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011149:Pons / Q000473:pathology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*
D004873:Ergolines; D007980:Levodopa; D008090:Lisuride; D002230:Carbidopa; D001058:Apomorphine