Dopa-responsive dystonia simulating spastic paraplegia due to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene mutations

Neurology. 2001 Jan 23;56(2):260-3. doi: 10.1212/wnl.56.2.260.

Abstract

Spastic paraplegia is not widely recognized to occur in dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD). The authors found a compound heterozygote for novel mutations of the human tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene (TH). The patient was initially diagnosed as having spastic paraplegia, but responded completely to levodopa therapy. Exercise-induced stiffness in the patient's father, who had a TH deletion, also responded to levodopa. The data expand the clinical spectrum of TH deficiency and suggest that TH mutations may account for some patients with DRD simulating spastic paraplegia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Dystonia / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Paraplegia / etiology*
  • Paraplegia / genetics*
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / genetics*

Substances

  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase