Abstract
The objective of the study is to ascertain the rationale for the diagnosis of postencephalitic parkinsonism (PEP) at Boston City Hospital’s Neurological Unit (1930–1981). 5,270 discharge summaries were evaluated for the diagnoses of PEP. Sixteen cases of PEP were identified; the diagnosis of PEP was justified in approximately half of these cases based on the published criteria for distinguishing PEP from Parkinson’s disease (PD). In conclusions, the absence of a clear justification for the diagnosis of PEP in many of the 16 cases suggests that the accepted relationship between encephalitis lethargica and PEP may be less definitive than currently believed.
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References
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Acknowledgments
We greatly appreciate the assistance of Drs. Thomas Sabin and Wendy Robertson in securing the Boston Hospital records and forwarding them to us. This study was supported by Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Vilensky received royalties from Elsevier for books published in this and prior years and serves as a co-editor of Clinical Anatomy. Dr. Duvoisin has no disclosures. Dr. Gilman receives reimbursements for professional services from Elsevier, Oxford, Pfizer, Janssen AI, Elan, TPP, and Longitude Capital.
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Vilensky, J.A., Duvosin, R.C. & Gilman, S. The diagnosis of postencephalitic parkinsonism at the neurological unit of Boston City Hospital, 1930–1981. Neurol Sci 32, 343–346 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0487-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0487-6