Levodopa therapy improves motor function in HIV-infected children with extrapyramidal syndromes

Neurology. 1996 Dec;47(6):1583-5. doi: 10.1212/wnl.47.6.1583.

Abstract

Five children with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection, aged 4 to 13 years, manifested extrapyramidal dysfunction characterized by rigidity/stiffness, ambulation difficulties/shuffling gait, dysarthria/drooling/swallowing dysfunction, hypomimetic/inexpressive facies, and bradykinesia. Levodopa therapy caused an initial improvement in all symptoms, and the effect was sustained in most patients. Levodopa is a useful adjunctive therapy in HIV-1-infected children with extrapyramidal syndromes, by enhancing motor function and improving their quality of life.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Movement Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Movement Disorders / physiopathology
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Levodopa