Myoclonal encephalopathy due to dopamine
Boudouresques, G.; Tafani, B.; Benichou, M.; Sarlon, R.
La Semaine des Hopitaux Organe Fonde Par l'Association d'Enseignement Medical des Hopitaux de Paris 58(46): 2729-2730
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-1777 PMID: 6297075 Document Number: 185787
Onset of confusion with myoclonus occurred in a 55-year-old patient hospitalized for infectious endocarditis and under intravenous dopamine. The speculative responsibility of dopamine in the occurrence of this myoclonic encephalopathy is discussed. Indeed, although dopamine does not cross the blood-brain barrier, inflammation of the wall of the cerebral vessels (immunologic vasculitis) may have enabled dopamine to reach the central nervous system.