ACUTE HYPONATREMIA AND NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

1. The neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may occur, occasionally, i n Parkinson's disease (PD) after withdrawal of antiparkinsonian drugs. However, the circumstances in which the NMS occurs and the pathophysi ologic mechanisms remain uncertain. 2. The authors studied a woman wit h PD, who developed hyperthermia, increased muscular tone, tremor, sig ns of autonomic dysfunction and stupor as symptoms of acute hyponatrem ia due to gastrointestinal loss of sodium in excess of water. 3. The c orrection of hyponatremia led to a complete recovery after about 6 hou rs. During this period the antiparkinsonian therapy was not modified. 4. An acute imbalance of sodium in the central nervous system may play a role in the pathophysiology of NMS.