Vertical ophthalmoplegia in a demented patient with striatopallidodentate calcification

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2003 Aug;57(4):447-50. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2003.01145.x.

Abstract

A case is presented here of a 73-year-old man who showed signs of dementia, supranuclear vertical ophthalmoplegia, pseudobulbar palsy, axial dystonia, mild rigidity, and parkinsonian gait. Computed tomography of the head revealed symmetrical calcification in the striatum, globus pallidus and dentate nucleus to an extraordinary degree. No metabolic conditions were observed that could explain the intracranial calcification. Oral administration of levodopa improved the patient's motor symptoms to some extent. Ophthalmoplegia, parkinsonism and dementia combined are typically seen in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. However, the present case and a few others that have been reported would seem to indicate that these unique symptoms might also be found in patients with intracranial calcification.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Calcinosis / complications*
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Dementia / complications*
  • Dementia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dentate Gyrus / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Globus Pallidus / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Neostriatum / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ophthalmoplegia / complications*
  • Ophthalmoplegia / diagnostic imaging
  • Ophthalmoplegia / drug therapy
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Dopamine Agents
  • Levodopa