[Catecholamine excretion in torsion dystonia]

The study concerns some results of the catecholamine metabolism in torsion dystonia. The author found certain changes of the excretion of catecholamines that were different in patients with various clinical manifestations of the disease. The most expressed changes were observed in patients with prevalent local regidity of the muscles in the clinical picture. They were seen in significant descrease of the excretion of all catecholamines and DOPA; the most expressed was a decrease of dopamine and adrenalin discharge. Along with this in prevalent torsion spastic hyperkinesis in the clinical picture there was a tendency towards an increase of dopamine excretion (in the absence of DOPA and noradrenalin changes), and a decreased adrenalin excretion. A conclusion is drawn concerning heterogeneity of torsion dystonia that deals with a clinical polymorphism of the disease. The author discusses the pathogenetical significance of the found biochemical disturbances.