[Parkinson disease and pregnancy. Apropos of a case]

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition associated with neuronal degeneration in the corpora nigra with a drop in the level of dopamine in the striatum. It is rarely encountered in women of reproductive age. Treatment is by giving levodopa. We report a case of pregnancy in a woman of 34 years of age who was suffering from severe Parkinson's disease treated with levodopa. We have assessed this case in the light of viewing the literature which confirms that there is no effect on the pregnancy or on the fetus although the symptoms of Parkinson's disease are made worse. Levodopa seems to be quite innocuous as far as the fetus is concerned. There is no teratogenicity although in animal experiments high doses teratogenic effects have been noted.