Camptocormia in a patient with Parkinson disease and a myopathy with nemaline rods.

Abstract

Camptocormia, also referred to as bent spine, is a gait disorder characterized by hyperflexion of the thoracolumbar spine that develops in recumbent position while walking and that disappears in supine position. Myopathy is one of the frequent causes of camptocormia. A 77-yr-old male patient who was followed up with the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis for 2 yrs was admitted with progressive gait deterioration. Hyperflexion of trunk, disappearing in supine position, was detected and diagnosed as camptocormia. He also exhibited the signs of parkinsonism. A paraspinal muscle biopsy showed myopathy with rods in many muscle fibers. Camptocormia in this patient may be attributable to the myopathic weakness of thoracolumbar paraspinal muscles. The normal biceps brachii muscle biopsy refers to the isolated affection of paraspinal muscles in this patient. A camptocormia (bent spine) case of myopathy with nemaline rods associated with Parkinson disease is presented.