Levodopa therapy improves motor function in HIV-infected children with extrapyramidal syndromes.
Five children with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection, aged 4 to 13 years, manifested extrapyramidal dysfunction characterized by rigidity/stiffness, ambulation difficulties/shuffling gait, dysarthria/drooling/swallowing dysfunction, hypomimetic/inexpressive facies, and bradykinesia. Levodopa therapy caused an initial improvement in all symptoms, and the effect was sustained in most patients. Levodopa is a useful adjunctive therapy in HIV-1-infected children with extrapyramidal syndromes, by enhancing motor function and improving their quality of life.
Mintz
M
M
Division of Pediatric Neurology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden 08103, USA.
Tardieu
M
M
Hoyt
L
L
McSherry
G
G
Mendelson
J
J
Oleske
J
J
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome
D007980:Levodopa