Lesions of basal ganglia due to disulfiram neurotoxicity

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1992 Oct;55(10):925-9. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.55.10.925.

Abstract

Three cases of disulfiram induced Parkinsonism and frontal lobe-like syndrome associated with bilateral lesions of the lentiform nuclei on CT scan are reported. Symptoms developed either after an acute high dose of disulfiram (one case) or after several days to weeks of disulfiram treatment (two cases) and persisted over several years in two patients. These observations suggest that basal ganglia are one of the major targets of disulfiram neurotoxicity. The mechanisms of the lesions of basal ganglia may involve carbon disulfide toxicity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation*
  • Basal Ganglia / drug effects
  • Basal Ganglia / pathology
  • Basal Ganglia Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Disulfiram / poisoning*
  • Disulfiram / therapeutic use
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Overdose / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination / drug effects*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Substance-Related Disorders / etiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Disulfiram