Thiethylperazine-induced parkinsonism: in vivo demonstration of dopamine D2 receptors blockade |
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| Authors: | C. Briani A. Cagnin F. Chierichetti M. Tiberio L. Battistin G. Pizzolato |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. chiara.briani@unipd.it |
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| Abstract: | Thiethylperazine (Torecan) is a piperazine phenothiazine employed to relieve vertigo. Its use may be associated with extrapyramidal side effects (dystonia, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia) (Sulkava, 1984), but parkinsonism has rarely been described. We describe a woman who, 1 month after the onset of thiethylperazine treatment, developed parkinsonism that disappeared 2 months after withdrawal of the drug. However, cerebral single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with the dopamine (DA) D2 receptors ligand 123I-iodobenzamide (123I-IBZM) revealed a persistent reduced DA D2 receptors activity (by 45%) in the basal ganglia (BG), which may be clinically not effective. |
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| Keywords: | thiethylperazine D2 receptors SPECT parkinsonism |
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