Dramatic levodopa responsiveness of dystonia in a sporadic case of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3

R Nandagopal, SGK Moorthy - Postgraduate medical journal, 2004 - academic.oup.com
R Nandagopal, SGK Moorthy
Postgraduate medical journal, 2004academic.oup.com
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.
Abstract
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.
Oxford University Press