Two-year follow-up study of a patient with Parkinson's disease and severe motor fluctuations treated by co-grafts of adrenal medulla and peripheral nerve into bilateral caudate nuclei: case report.

Abstract

We performed co-grafts of adrenal medulla and peripheral nerve into the bilateral caudate nuclei of a 43-year-old patient with advanced Parkinson's disease who showed severe daily motor fluctuations before surgery. There were no postoperative complications, and a 2-year follow-up result is presented. The patient showed a gradual and significant amelioration of the parkinsonian symptoms starting 2 weeks after transplantation. The alleviation of akinesia during "off" periods was the most apparent clinical improvement and continued for 2 years after surgery. The dosage of L-dopa/benserazide was significantly reduced after surgery compared with that before surgery. The results indicate that co-grafts of adrenal medulla with peripheral nerve may be useful for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in the long term.