Gabapentin for decerebrate rigidity: a case report.
A 48-year-old woman suddenly lost consciousness as a result of a right rostral pontine tegmentum haemorrhage. The patient presented with decerebrate rigidity (DR) and regained full consciousness 5 days after the initial onset. The patient was given gabapentin 1200 mg/day nasogastrically and her DR significantly improved, although other antiepileptic drugs such as phenytoin and carbamazepine were given in larger dosages to decrease muscle hypertonicity. The patients' preserved consciousness and motor-evoked potentials to transcranial magnetic stimulation indicated a derangement of the extrapyramidal tracts with preservation of the pyramidal tracts. This case report discusses the possible mechanisms of action of gabapentin in DR.
Kao
Chuen-Der
CD
Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Jen-Tse
JT
Lai
Kuan-Lin
KL
Chang
Jiun-Bin
JB
Wu
Zin-An
ZA
Liao
Kwong-Kum
KK
D000588:Amines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003655:Decerebrate State / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011149:Pons / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin