LOW-DOSE BROMOCRIPTINE-INDUCED PLEURAL EFFUSION AND PLEUROPULMONARY FIBROSIS

We describe a parkinsonian patient who developed a slight asymptomatic pleural effusion during prolonged therapy with low dose bromocriptine (BCR) in addition to levodopa, following prior treatment with CQA 206-291. A moderate increase of BCR dosage prompted a severe pleuropulmonary inflammatory reaction with polyclonal activation and elevated serum liver enzymes, which normalized following withdrawal of the drug. The clinical syndrome and close relation to BCR treatment are in keeping with a diagnosis of BCR-related pleuropulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Features of this case are compared with previous reports on dopamine (DA) agonist-related PPF. This case supports earlier suggestions of polyclonal activation in DA agonist-related PPF and suggests hepatic involvement and dose dependency

Visuo-spatial attention and intention in asymmetric Parkinson's disease (PD)

Lateralized differences in visuo-spatial attention and intention were studied in asymmetric PD patients (7 predominantly right and 7 left; mean age 50 years) and age-matched controls. Visuo-spatial attention was assessed with event related poten tials (P1, N1, N2, P3) and detection. Intention was assessed in a pointing task from the effects on movement latency and duration of varying hand, hemispace of stimulus presentation, and direction of movement. No evidence for impaired spatial attention and intention was found in either PD group