Use of Sinemet in locked-in syndrome: a report of two cases.

Abstract

Locked-in syndrome describes a neurological condition usually associated with infarction of the ventral pons. Such patients are diagnosed with quadriplegia, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and mutism. The patient is alert but communication is severely limited and usually is accomplished by blinking or using vertical eye movements. The rehabilitative management of locked-in syndrome has consisted of preventative and supportive measures. In this study we report two cases of locked-in syndrome which were treated successfully with Sinemet (DuPont Pharmaceuticals, Wilmington, DE). Even though the exact neuropharmacological mechanism is unclear, the dramatic improvement in these cases, as well as in one other published case report, dictates that use of Sinemet should be considered in the management of locked-in syndrome.

• Authors: R R Ockey, D Mowry, G Varghese
• Journal: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation (Arch Phys Med Rehabil) Vol. 76 Issue 9 Pg. 868-70 (Sep 1995) ISSN: 0003-9993 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7668960 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Dopamine Agonists
• Drug Combinations
• carbidopa, levodopa drug combination
• Levodopa
• Carbidopa

Topics

• Adult
• Carbidopa (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Dopamine Agonists (therapeutic use)
• Drug Combinations
• Humans
• Levodopa (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Quadriplegia (drug therapy, physiopathology)