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Published on: October 4, 2021
Androgen insensitivity and liability to drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms
Panagiotis Ferentinos1, Emmanouil Rizos, Athanassios Douzenis
1Second Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Attikon General Hospital, Athens, Greece. pferentinos@med.uoa.gr
Background:
Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a disorder of sex development characterized by variable defects in virilization of individuals with 46,XY karyotype. It is caused by mutations in the X chromosome androgen receptor gene, which, depending on their specific location, result in complete or partial peripheral androgen resistance.
Objective:
This case report highlights a possible increased liability of patients with AIS to drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).
Case Summary:
A 28-year-old patient with partial AIS was admitted to the hospital because of paranoid ideation. At puberty onset, she had undergone bilateral orchiectomy; estrogen replacement therapy was prescribed but stopped 2 months later against medical advice. During her hospitalization, severe EPS manifested following initiation of risperidone 2 mg/d. She was later switched to sertindole 12 mg/d with a satisfactory response and no motor side effects.
Conclusions:
Patients with AIS may have an increased susceptibility to drug-induced EPS, which may be caused by striatal dysfunction that is possibly associated with resistance to androgens during critical periods of early brain differentiation or direct effects of androgen receptor gene mutations on nigrostriatal function and development. Clinicians should cautiously treat psychosis in patients with AIS, preferably with antipsychotic compounds that have a low risk of EPS.
Insights
Patients with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) may be more prone to drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Careful selection of antipsychotics is recommended for psychosis treatment in AIS patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a disorder of sex development in 46,XY individuals.
- Caused by androgen receptor gene mutations, leading to partial or complete androgen resistance.
Observation:
- A 28-year-old patient with partial AIS developed severe extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) after starting risperidone.
- The patient had a history of paranoid ideation and discontinued estrogen therapy.
Findings:
- The patient responded well to sertindole with no motor side effects after switching from risperidone.
- This suggests a potential increased susceptibility to drug-induced EPS in AIS patients.
Implications:
- AIS patients may have heightened risk for drug-induced EPS due to potential striatal dysfunction or direct effects on nigrostriatal pathways.
- Clinicians should exercise caution when treating psychosis in AIS patients, favoring antipsychotics with lower EPS risk.
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