title: Reversible parkinsonism with normal beta-CIT-SPECT in patients exposed to sodium valproate.
abstract: After reports of reversible parkinsonism and cognitive impairment with sodium valproate (VPA), the authors examined 50 consecutive patients taking VPA and 20 patients taking carbamazepine. Three patients taking VPA exhibited unequivocal parkinsonism with Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale scores >30. VPA was withdrawn from two patients with improvement of symptoms. Reduction in VPA dosage in the third patient produced no improvement. beta-CIT-SPECT scans were normal, suggesting dopaminergic neuronal loss is not the underlying mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Manchester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Easterford
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clough
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kellett
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018401:Sample Size; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid