Postencephalitic parkinsonism
- Postencephalitic parkinsonism
Infobox_Disease
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ICD10 = ICD10|G|21|3|g|20
ICD9 = ICD9|310.8
ICDO =
OMIM =
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MeshID = D010301
Postencephalitic parkinsonism is a disease that is believed to have been caused by a viral illness, stimulating degeneration of the nerve cells in the substantia nigra, leading to clinical parkinsonism. The disease followed a condition called encephalitis lethargica (Von Economo's encephalitis). There was an epidemic of this in 1918 related to an influenza pandemic - however even using modern molecular diagnostic tests on human material from people who died at the time, no firm link between encephalitis lethargica with influenza has been made.
The brain regions affected contain neurofibrillary tangles, similar to those seen in Alzheimer's disease. However, the senile plaques found in Alzheimer's disease are not found.
Cultural references
The film "Awakenings" (starring Robin Williams and Robert de Niro and based on genuine cases reported by Oliver Sacks) deals sensitively and largely accurately with this disease. The state of the art in treatment remains roughly the same as it was at the time of the events depicted, the 1960s, although patients with postencephalitic parkinsonism lose benefit from their medication far faster than do patients with Parkinson's disease.
External links
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Look at other dictionaries:
postencephalitic parkinsonism — parkinsonian syndrome … Medical dictionary
parkinsonism — /pahr kin seuh niz euhm/, n. Pathol. a common neurologic disease believed to be caused by deterioration of the brain cells that produce dopamine, occurring primarily after the age of 60, characterized by tremors, esp. of the fingers and hands,… … Universalium
postencephalitic — Following encephalitis. * * * post·en·ceph·a·lit·ic in .sef ə lit ik adj occurring after and presumably as a result of encephalitis <postencephalitic parkinsonism> … Medical dictionary
postencephalitic — (|) ̷ ̷+ adjective Etymology: post + encephalitic : developing after and presumably as a result of encephalitis postencephalitic parkinsonism * * * adj … Useful english dictionary
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Encephalitis — Inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis occurs, for example, in 1 in 1,000 cases of measles. It may start (up to 3 weeks) after onset of the measles rash and present with high fever, convulsions, and coma. It usually runs a blessedly short course … Medical dictionary
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Constantin von Economo — Constantin Freiherr von Economo (born August 21, 1876 in Brăila, Romania; died October 21, 1931 in Vienna) was a Romanian psychiatrist and neurologist of Greek origin. He is mostly known for his discovery of encephalitis lethargica and his atlas… … Wikipedia
Базалья, Франко — Франко Базалья Franco Basaglia … Википедия
