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Functional improvement in a patient with cerebral calcinosis using a bisphosphonate
Author(s) -
Loeb Jeffrey A.
Publication year - 1998
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/mds.870130225
Subject(s) - spasticity , dystonia , medicine , ataxia , calcification , bisphosphonate , calcinosis , gait ataxia , physical medicine and rehabilitation , osteoporosis , psychiatry
Idiopathic cerebral calcification can be associated with a progressive neurologic disorder for which there is no known treatment. This report describes a patient with a familial form of this disorder presenting in middle age with progressive Parkinson‐like features along with spasticity, dystonia, and ataxia. Disodium etidronate, a bisphosphonate, produced a twofold improvement in the rate of his speech and gait, but did not affect his spasticity, dystonia, or ataxia. Quantitative analysis of cerebral calcification did not reveal any reduction in the amount of calcification, suggesting other possible mechanisms for this clinical improvement.