"Apraxia of eyelid opening" induced by levodopa therapy and apomorphine in atypical parkinsonism (possible progressive supranuclear palsy): a case report

Abstract

We report a female patient in whom so-called apraxia of eyelid opening (AEO) developed after the onset of possible progressive supranuclear palsy (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke criteria) and the introduction of antiparkinsonian medications including levodopa. Although parkinsonian symptoms responded poorly to levodopa, AEO worsened after increasing levodopa dosage and disappeared when levodopa was discontinued. Later, a dose of apomorphine widely accepted for acute tests had no significant effect on limb motor activity but induced AEO. Overall, these observations are grounds for thinking that AEO developing in the course of parkinsonism may be either disease- or drug-related. The possibility of manipulating dopaminergic treatment should always be considered when dealing with AEO associated with parkinsonism.