Parkinsonism Relating to Intoxication with Glyphosate

Intern Med. 2019 Jul 1;58(13):1935-1938. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2028-18. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Abstract

We herein report the case of a 38-year-old man who developed parkinsonism 4 years after ingesting glyphosate. The patient presented with right-sided bradykinesia and cogwheel rigidity without autonomic symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and [123I]-metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy were normal. A drastic response to levodopa and the presence of levodopa-induced dyskinesia without strong non-motor symptoms were seen in this patient. We considered that young-onset atypical parkinsonism was associated with a history of sublethal glyphosate ingestion. Epidemiologic investigations have shown that exposure to pesticides is a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). Our findings support the notion that glyphosate exposure might be related to the onset of PD.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; glyphosate; pesticide.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Glycine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Glycine / toxicity
  • Glyphosate
  • Herbicides / toxicity*
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Muscle Rigidity / chemically induced*
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Herbicides
  • Levodopa
  • Glycine