Von Economo’s disease and postencephalitic parkinsonism responsive to carbidopa and levodopa

Abstract

Daniel Y Bigman, Bradford D Bobrin Department of Psychiatry, Cooper University Hospital, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA Abstract: Postencephalitic parkinsonism (PEP) is currently perceived as having a very close etiologic relationship with encephalitis lethargica (von Economo’s disease [EL]), with PEP developing immediately after the acute phase of EL or at some time later. EL was classically described by von Economo and has somnolent-ophthalmoplegic, hyperkinetic, and amyostatic-akinetic forms. Previous cases have reported success with levodopa in PEP. We report a case with PEP showing success after administration of levodopa and carbidopa. This case would support the hypothesis that this syndrome effects dopamine neurotransmission. Keywords: von Economo, encephalitis lethargica, postencephalitic parkinsonism, carbidopa, levodopa, catatonia

Keywords

• von Economo
• encephalitis lethargica
• Postencephalitis Parkinsonism
• carbidopa
• levodopa
• catatonia