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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Neuropeptides in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: February 14, 2012
Dopaminergic response in Parkinsonian phenotype of Machado-Joseph disease
Carsten Buhmann1, Alexandra Bussopulos, Matthias Oechsner
1Department of Neurology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. buhmann@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Abstract:
We report on a patient with genetically proven Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD) presenting with signs indistinguishable from Parkinson's disease (PD), including levodopa response and typical levodopa-induced motor fluctuations. Only after 10 years of prolonged benefit from levodopa and different dopamine agonists (DA), the patient developed cerebellar ataxia and pyramidal signs. Preferential D3-receptor-stimulating dopamine agonists especially showed a benefit at the time, when D2 receptor binding was reduced in IBZM SPECT. This is the first report of a meaningful response to DA in MJD.
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