Premium
Camptocormia (bent spine) in patients with Parkinson's disease—Characterization and possible pathogenesis of an unusual phenomenon
Author(s) -
Djaldetti Ruth,
MosbergGalili Ronit,
Sroka Haza,
Merims Doron,
Melamed Eldad
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/1531-8257(199905)14:3<443::aid-mds1009>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - medicine , parkinson's disease , pathogenesis , disease , dystonia , levodopa , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , psychiatry
Camptocormia is characterized by severe forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine which increases while walking and disappears in the recumbent position. We describe for the first time eight patients with presumed idiopathic Parkinson's disease (mean age 66 ± 5 yrs; mean symptom duration 13.1 ± 5.1 yrs) who developed camptocormia. This impressive abnormal posture emerged 4–14 years from disease onset, and in some patients stooped posture was the prominent symptom at diagnosis. There was no clear correlation between camptocormia and levodopa treatment. In some patients the camptocormic posture improved, and in others it was unchanged or even aggravated following levodopa administration. Three patients reported worsening of this symptom during “off” periods and also with fatigue. The pathogenesis of this phenomenon is unknown but might represent either a rare type of dystonia or an extreme form of rigidity.