Bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation results in reversal of alopecia in Parkinson's disease.
Alopecia is a rare but important side effect of anti-parkinsonian medications. Our patient was a 72-year-old man with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) who received levodopa and anti-cholinergic drugs and whose head had become almost completely bald. As bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation produced improvement in his motor symptoms, his drug dosages were reduced postoperatively. At 8 months after surgery, hair again covered his entire head. Our study presents a new aspect of the benefit of STN stimulation with regard to drug-induced non-motor symptoms in patient with PD.
Yamada
Kazumichi
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
Goto
Satoshi
S
D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa