Parkinsonism and dystonia in central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis
- aCenter for Postgraduate Studies in Neuroscience, Danube University, Krems, Austria, and Department of Neurology, Landesnervenklinik Klosterneuburg- Gugging, Austria, bDepartment of Neurology, University of Vienna, Austria
- Dr Andreas Seiser, Department of Neurology, Landesnervenklinik Gugging, Hauptstraβe 2, A-3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria. Telephone 0043 2243 401 371; fax 0043 2243 401 338.
- Received 21 August 1997
- Revised 5 November 1997
- Accepted 11 November 1997
Abstract
Parkinsonism as well as dystonic signs are rarely seen in central pontine myelinolysis and extrapontine myelinolysis. A 51 year old woman developed central pontine myelinolysis and extrapontine myelinolysis with parkinsonism after severe vomiting which followed alcohol and drug intake, even though marked hyponatraemia had been corrected gradually over six days. Parkinsonism resolved four months after onset, but she then exhibited persistent retrocollis, spasmodic dysphonia, and focal dystonia of her left hand. Although the medical literature documents three similar patients, this patient is different as dystonic symptoms only developed four months after parkinsonian signs had resolved.
