Dramatic levodopa responsiveness of dystonia in a sporadic case of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.
A genetically confirmed case of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA 3), presenting with disabling foot dystonia, peripheral neuropathy, and minimal cerebellar signs is reported. The dystonia improved dramatically with levodopa treatment in the absence of additional parkinsonian feature. A trial of levodopa for dystonia in SCA 3 may be of therapeutic benefit, at least in the initial stage of the disease.
Nandagopal
R
R
Department of Neurology, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. rnandagopal@yahoo.com
Moorthy
S G K
SG
D000328:Adult; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017827:Machado-Joseph Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa