Skip to main content
BMC Neurology logoLink to BMC Neurology
. 2023 Jan 24;23:38. doi: 10.1186/s12883-023-03064-2

Parkinsonism after ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus

Yue Zhang 1,#, Bi W Chen 1,#, Wei Mao 1, Feng Y Wu 1, Yan Zhang 1,2,
PMCID: PMC9872429  PMID: 36694119

Abstract

Background

Parkinsonism after ventriculoperitoneal shunt in patients with hydrocephalus is a rare and profound complication that is often misdiagnosed, causing treatment to be delayed. To date, the characteristics of this disease have not been well described and summarized. Here, we report a rare case of parkinsonism after ventriculoperitoneal shunt; symptoms were aggravated by antipsychotic drugs but showed a good response to Madopar. Such cases have rarely been reported previously.

Case presentation

A 44-year-old man presented with parkinsonism, bilateral pyramidal tract signs, and oculomotor impairment four years after a successful ventriculoperitoneal shunt for idiopathic aqueduct stenosis resulting in obstructive hydrocephalus. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography showed fluctuations in the lateral ventricle and the third ventricle without any intervention. The patient’s condition was aggravated by antipsychotic drugs but showed a good response to Madopar.

Conclusion

This observation suggests that parkinsonism in this patient was caused by reversible dysfunction of the presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway due to fluctuations in the lateral ventricle, representing the first hit to the dopaminergic signalling pathway, and antipsychotic drugs had an antagonistic effect on dopamine D2 receptors, representing the second hit. In addition, we summarize the pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical manifestations, treatments, and prognoses of this complication in 38 patients who met the inclusion criteria in 24 previous studies to increase neurologists’ understanding of the disease.

Keywords: Parkinsonism, Ventriculoperitoneal shunt, Hydrocephalus, Complication, Case report

Background

Hydrocephalus is a common adult neurosurgical condition characterized by overaccumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, which can affect cognitive function, vision, appetite, and cranial nerve function. The current treatment for hydrocephalus uses ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts with valves to redirect CSF from the ventricles into the peritoneum [1]. Unfortunately, several complications can occur due to shunt technology, including infection, catheter occlusion, and overdrainage or underdrainage of CSF due to valve malfunction [2]. However, parkinsonism is rare after single or multiple VP shunt in patients with hydrocephalus. The mechanisms that are widely accepted at present involve impairments in two pathways: the presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway and the cortico-basal ganglia loop. Different therapeutic strategies are used for the different pathways involved. The former requires high doses of dopaminergic drugs, but endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is more effective for the latter. Early diagnosis and pharmacological treatment are crucial for a patient’s recovery; therefore, it is essential that neurologists pay attention to this rare but devastating postoperative complication. This paper presents the case of a middle-aged man with obstructive hydrocephalus due to idiopathic midbrain aqueduct stenosis who developed parkinsonism and akinetic mutism 4 years after right-sided VP shunt. Along with this case, we summarize the literature to improve the understanding of this disease within the field and to clarify the most effective direction of treatment.

Case presentation

In 2016, a 44-year-old male presented with sudden intermittent headache and dizziness and progressive loss of vision lasting for 3 months. He was diagnosed with obstructive hydrocephalus due to idiopathic aqueduct stenosis and underwent a right VP shunt procedure on September 10, 2016. His symptoms were completely relieved after the operation.

On February 15, 2021, he developed stiff facial expressions. After two weeks, he gradually developed bradykinesia and body stiffness. At that time, the patient’s family complained that he was depressed because of recent family conflict. A psychiatrist diagnosed him with catatonic syndrome. The patient subsequently started paroxetine and mirtazapine treatment. One month later, his symptoms began gradually intensifying, and he developed significant limitation of vertical ocular movements, parkinsonian symptoms of cogwheel rigidity and shaking, limb bradykinesia, and difficulty turning over in bed. In addition, his voice became slow and soft. Most of the time, he was silent and presented memory loss. Given the possibilities of parkinsonism, autoimmune encephalitis, and depressive stupor, the patient received duloxetine, clonazepam, donepezil, amantadine, ganciclovir, and methylprednisolone.

After two months of treatment, the patient became bedridden and was eventually admitted to our hospital. He gradually developed drowsiness, had to be fed through a nasogastric tube and needed tracheal intubation on April 19, 2021. Neurological examination showed high myodynamia, bilateral pyramidal signs, and hyperreactive deep-tendon reflexes. Madopar (125 milligrams (mg) ter in die) was administered to improve parkinsonism. Duloxetine (20 mg quaque die), clonazepam (2 mg bis in die) and olanzapine (5 mg quaque nocte) were given to treat depressive stupor, all without effect. Considering that the psychiatric symptoms were not prominent and there was no evidence of shunt malfunction, we suspended the use of antipsychotics and prescribed Madopar alone. The dose of Madopar was increased to 1250 mg per day, and over the next five days, the patient became flexible and able to speak. Upon discharge, he was still suffering from parkinsonism and presented with Parinaud syndrome, a supranuclear paralysis of vertical gaze resulting from damage to the mesencephalon [3], but he could eat and walk with help. After being treated with Madopar (1250 mg/d) for one month, the patient was able to care for himself and was fully mobile. As a result, he stopped Madopar, and his parkinsonism did not relapse within one month after discontinuation of therapy.

The results of CSF examination were normal (Table 1). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans displayed fluctuations in the lateral ventricle (Fig. 1).

Table 1.

Summary of the cerebrospinal fluid tests

Test items Results Reference range
25 August 2016 26 April 2021
Pressure 140 mmH2O 150 mmH2O 80 mmH2O-180 mmH2O
Total cell count 2005 × 106/L (0–8)×106/L
Leukocyte count 0 5 × 106/L 0 × 106/L
Protein 22.1 mg/dL 48.60 mg/dL 15–45 mg/dL
Glucose 61.79 mg/dL 54.18 mg/dL 45–80 mg/dL
Immunoglobulin G 9.56 mg/dl 7.51–15.6 g/L
Immunoglobulin A 0.59 mg/dl 0.82–4.53 g/L
Immunoglobulin M 0.34 mg/dl 0.46–3.04 g/L
Antibodies against NMDARs, LGI1 negative negative negative
Antibodies against Hu (e1), Yo (PCA1), and Ri (ANNA2) negative negative
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing negative negative
Xpert negative negative negative
TB-spot negative negative negative
Cysticercosis negative negative negative

NMDARs N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, LGI1 Leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Serial axial MRI and CT scans showing that the ventricles changed significantly from normal to enlarged and then back to normal, showing the fluctuation of the lateral ventricle

The patient had no related previous physical or mental illness, no toxic exposure and no medical history. Furthermore, no other family members had a similar history.

Discussion and conclusions

In our case, parkinsonism developed prior to the use of antipsychotics and gradually progressed until April 19, 2021, when the patient was admitted to our hospital. At that time, his symptoms peaked. However, there was no artificial adjustment of the shunt device, and CT showed that the lateral ventricle and the third ventricle had returned to normal levels. In summary, the head imaging results did not match the clinical symptoms, and the patient had a good response to high-dose Madopar.

We faced a huge challenge in the diagnosis and treatment of this patient, and the differential diagnosis may include several considerations. Parkinson’s disease is characteristic by bradykinesia in combination, with either rest tremor and rigidity. However, our patient presented as downward vertical supranuclear gaze palsy, which is the absolute exclusion criteria for Parkinson’s disease [4], so this diagnosis was ruled out. Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) should also be differentiated. PSP is a neurological syndrome characterized by movement disorders, speech disorders and behavioral abnormalities. The disease progresses slowly and has a limited response to Madopar [5], which is not consistent with the actual course of our patient. Normlpressurehydrocephlus is another disease that needs to be considered. These patients present parkinsonism and cognitive impairment. Head MRI and CT showed the ventricles were enlarged. The pressure of CSF was normal. However, our patient didn’t have urination disorders, and ventricular automatic back to normal size without shunt malfunction and any interventions [6], so we didn’t consider the diagnosis. In addition, viral encephalitis presented with disturbance of consciousness and cognitive impairment, so we should consider it. However, no abnormality was found in the metagenomics next generation sequencing, and antiviral treatment in other hospitals was ineffective. Therefore, we excluded this diagnosis. Young patients with consciousness impairment and cognitive impairment need to be considered of autoimmune encephalitis, high-dose hormone is invalid, and the result of autoimmune encephalitis antibody was negative, so the disease was not considered. Therefore, we may consider parkinsonism after VP shunt for hydrocephalus.

We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and WANFANG databases with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) index terms. Search results were merged using reference management software, and any duplicate records of the same report were removed. Among the identified records, this review included only those whose participants (1) underwent single or multiple VP shunt due to hydrocephalus and (2) had parkinsonian symptoms. Studies that clearly did not meet the initial criteria were rejected on initial review. Reviews, conference papers, abstracts without available full text and studies written in languages other than English or Chinese were also excluded. Ultimately, this literature review included 24 articles that reported parkinsonism after VP shunt for hydrocephalus in 38 patients (Fig. 2; Table 2) [730]. These patients comprised 26 males and 12 females whose age at the onset of parkinsonism ranged from 7 to 72 years. The reported preoperative initial diagnosis was hydrocephalus in all cases; the aetiological type was mostly obstructive hydrocephalus caused by midbrain aqueduct stenosis (22/38), tumours (4/38), or other causes (12/38). After single (19/38) or multiple (19/38) VP shunt placement, these patients’ symptoms of hydrocephalus were improved significantly. The time between the completion of surgery and the onset of parkinsonism ranged from less than 1 day to 16 years. Patients presented with stiff facial expressions, salivation, dysphagia, low voice, limb tremor, stiffness, and bradykinesia. Neurological examination revealed Parinaud syndrome, cognitive impairment, tendon hyperreflexia, and positive bilateral pyramidal tract signs. Imaging showed fluctuating changes in the lateral ventricle and the third ventricle without any obstruction of or other interference with the shunt device. In addition, reduced uptake of radionuclides could be seen in the striatum or the frontal cortex.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Flow chart of the systematic search and study selection process

Table 2.

Summary of clinical features in patients with Parkinsonism following VP shunt due to hydrocephalus

Case n° Author(s)/year Age (yrs)/sex Hydrocephalus (HD) Operation Time of onset Treatment Prognosis/Time
1 Berger et al., 1985 [8] 21/F obstructive HD due to AS

multiple shunt

revisions

2 weeks after the first revision another shunt revision, Cogentin 2 mg TID, Prolopa 100 mg BID improved following this revision; motor examination was normal on medications/6 months
2 Curran et al., 1994 [9] 16/B obstructive HD due to AS

multiple shunt

revisions

after the last revision levodopa/carbidopa parkinsonism improved
3 21/M obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to a pineal mass VP shunt 1 year after VP shunt levodopa parkinsonism improved/1 year
4 7/B obstructive HD due to AS

multiple shunt

revisions

after the last revision levodopa parkinsonism improved
5 72/M normal pressure hydrocephalus VP shunt 4 years after VP shunt levodopa parkinsonism improved
6 Keane et al., 1995 [11] 32/F obstructive hydrocephalus caused by cysticercosis

multiple shunt

revisions

unknown placement of a shunt with a low-pressure valve extrapyramidal signs became less prominent
7 Shahar et al., 1998 [16] 17/B obstructive HD due to AS

multiple shunt

revisions

2 weeks after the last revision levodopa/carbidopa 100/25 mg TID remarkable improvement/1 week
8 Asamoto et al., 1998 [7] 18/F obstructive HD due to AS VP shunt developed acute parkinsonism after the shunt revision levodopa parkinsonism improved
9 Zeidler et al., 1998 [24] 57/M obstructive HD due to AS VP shunt, subsequent shunt replacement failure, Torkildsen operation 16 months after the last operation bromocriptine 3 mg BID, Sinemet Plus 2 tablets QID extrapyramidal signs becoming less prominent
10 21/F obstructive HD due to AS

multiple shunt

revisions

3 months after the last revision Madopar 125 mg to 250 mg TID improvement in rigidity/2 days; spontaneous speech and increased mobility/2 weeks
11 Ochiai et al., 2000 [14] 59/M obstructive HD

multiple shunt

revisions

3 months after the last revision bromocriptine/amantadine, L-dopa bromocriptine/amantadine had no effect; the parkinsonism dramatically improved with administration of L-dopa
12 32/M obstructive HD

multiple shunt

revisions

3 months after the last revision bromocriptine/amantadine, L-dopa bromocriptine/amantadine had no effect; the parkinsonism dramatically improved with administration of L-dopa
13 Sun et al., 2001 [28] 19/M obstructive HD VP shunt 4 months after VP shunt amantadine/Artane treatment was ineffective; patient died/1 year
14 14/B obstructive HD VP shunt 2 months after VP shunt amantadine/Artane parkinsonian features improved/unknown
15 21/M communicating hydrocephalus VP shunt 3 months after VP shunt pressure shunt pump parkinsonian features improved, but patient died of leukaemia/unknown
16 18/M obstructive HD due to AS VP shunt 4 months after VP shunt niacin, amantadine/Artane parkinsonian features improved/3 days
17 27/F obstructive HD VP shunt 2 years after VP shunt amantadine/Artane, shunt revisions parkinsonism presented upon use of medication/unknown
18 Tokunaga et al., 2003 [22] 26/M obstructive hydrocephalus after possible encephalitis VP shunt 8 months after VP shunt endoscopic third ventriculostomy patient became capable of walking/2 months
19 Racette et al., 2004 [17] 44/M obstructive HD due to AS

VP shunt and shunt

revisions

10 days after revision levodopa/carbidopa 1500/375 mg QD improved verbal response time, bradykinesia, and rigidity/unknown
20 Yomo et al., 2006 [23] 64/M obstructive HD due to AS

VP shunt multiple shunt

revisions

4 months after the VP shunt levodopa/carbidopa 300/30 mg QD to 600/60 mg QD parkinsonism presented after several months because of slit ventricle syndrome
21 Kim et al., 2006 [12] 46/M obstructive HD due to AS

multiple shunt

revisions

1 week after the second revision levodopa/carbidopa 100/25 mg TID parkinsonian features markedly improved/3 days
22 Prashantha et al., 2008 [16] 38/M obstructive HD due to AS

multiple shunt

revisions

3 days after the last revision levodopa/carbidopa, total dose 275 mg QID good response to levodopa/3 weeks; almost asymptomatic/3 months
23 Kinugawa et al., 2009 [13] 49/M obstructive HD due to AS VP shunt 3 months after VP shunt levodopa 300 mg QD trihexyphenidyl 6 mg QD parkinsonism improved but fully recurred/1 year
24 Sakurai et al., 2010 [19] 46/F obstructive HD due to AS VP shunt unknown levodopa 600 mg QD parkinsonian features markedly improved/unknown
25 Hashizume et al., 2011 [10] 47/F obstructive HD due to AS VP shunt 1 year after VP shunt levodopa/carbidopa 1000/100 mg QD endoscopic third ventriculostomy no improvement with medication; symptoms improved 2 months after surgery
26 Lau et al., 2011 [30] 17/B obstructive HD due to pineal tumour VP shunt 3 years after VP shunt

acute shunt

malfunction

total recovery after a month
27 Rebai et al., 2012 [18] 11/F AS due to tectal tumour

ETV failure,

multiple shunt

revisions

1 day after the last revision levodopa 125 mg TID bromocriptine 30 mg QD regained the ability to stand and walk with assistance/2 weeks
28 Okawa et al., 2015 [15] 51/M obstructive HD due to AS after the bleeding in the fourth ventricle surgery VP shunt 2 months after VP shunt levodopa/benserazide 1200/300 mg QD endoscopic third ventriculostomy preoperative medication for ETV was ineffective; patient was able to walk with a walker after ETV combined with 5 months of medication use
29 Li et al., 2017 [27] 41/M obstructive HD due to AS VP shunt 1 month after VP shunt levodopa/benserazide 200/50 mg TID amantadine 100 mg TID parkinsonian features markedly improved/10 days
30 35/F hydrocephalus caused by traumatic brain injury VP shunt 16 years after VP shunt levodopa/benserazide 400/100 mg TID parkinsonian features markedly improved/25 days
31 18/F hydrocephalus caused by traumatic brain injury VP shunt 5 months after VP shunt levodopa/benserazide 100/25 mg TID could eat independently, increased physical activity/1 month
32 Zhou et al., 2019 [25] 45/M obstructive HD due to AS VP shunt and an increase in pressure 6 months after the last revision Madopar/pramipexole 125/0.125 mg TID for 10 days, Madopar 250 mg TID for two years

parkinsonian features started to improve/10 days; parkinsonian features did not recur/2-year

follow-up period

33 Shpiner et al., 2021 [21] 35/M obstructive HD due to AS multiple recalibrations 3 weeks after the last recalibration carbidopa/levodopa 187.5/750 mg QD, endoscopic third ventriculostomy presented with parkinsonism/unknown
34 26/M obstructive HD due to pineal tumour

multiple shunt

revisions

6 months after the last revision carbidopa/levodopa 75/300 mg QD presented with parkinsonism /10 days after medication use
35 Costa et al., 2021 [26] 38/M obstructive HD due to AS VP shunt 2 weeks after VP shunt levodopa/benserazide 250 mg QID, bromocriptine 5 mg TID good control established in 6 months
36 Villamil et al.,2022 [29] 42/F obstructive HD due to AS endoscopic third ventriculostomy and VP shunt 2 months after VP shunt levodopa-carbidopa 250/25 mg QID after 2 years of follow-up, patient remained on chronic treatment with L-dopa and was responding well
37 32/F obstructive HD due to rosette-forming glioneuronal tumour endoscopic third ventriculostomy, VP shunt and shunt revision 4 months after the last revision levodopa-carbidopa 250/25 mg QID good control established in 6 months
38 20/M obstructive HD due to AS multiple shunt revisions 3 months after the last revision cabergoline 10 mg QD, amantadine 100 mg TID completely resolved in 2 months

HD Hydrocephalus, AS Aqueductal stenosis, VP Ventriculoperitoneal, QD Quaque die, BID Bis in die, TID Ter in die; mg = milligrams

The pathogenesis of parkinsonism secondary to VP shunt has not been clarified. In current thinking, the widely accepted mechanisms involve two main pathways. One is reversible dysfunction of the presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway. 6-[18 F] Fluorodopa positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has shown reduced uptake in the striatum [31], indicating that the striatum is directly damaged, the substantia nigra striatum pathway is interrupted, or the substantia nigra pars compacta is dysfunctional [13]. 6-[18 F] Fluorodopa PET imaging has thus provided important evidence of the pathophysiology of parkinsonism secondary to VP shunt. First, the enlarged lateral and third ventricles directly constrict the caudate, leading to the impairment of blood flow or neuronal transport in the striatum, which results in dopamine deficiency [24]. A single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) study showed reduced cerebral blood flow in the bilateral caudate, further supporting this hypothesis [32]. Second, some authors have suggested that the brain undergoes a series of expansion and contraction cycles; therefore, repeated cycles of ventricular dilatation and relaxation may somehow alter their physical characteristics and increase the speed of dilatation in response to increased intracranial pressure, leading to damage [24]. The medial aspects of the substantia nigra pars compacta are more easily affected by increased intracranial pressure than other parts, resulting in a significant loss of dopamine neurons and a reduction in dopamine release [33]. Furthermore, some authors have proposed that the effect of shear forces from fluctuations in the lateral ventricle causes mechanical disruption of nigrostriatal projection fibres [16].

The other mechanism is cortico-basal ganglia loop dysfunction. Interestingly, in a few cases, 99mTc-ECD SPECT and [18 F] DOPA PET revealed severely low uptake in the frontal lobe cortex but not in the striatum [34], implying the impairment of more distal basal ganglia connections [9]. Researchers have found that some cases of parkinsonism are related to cortico-basal ganglia loop dysfunction resulting from reduced cerebral cortical blood flow without a loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons [10, 35]. Additionally, scholars propose that artificial alteration of the transtentorial pressure balance results in hydrocephalus and excessive drainage, which directly damage the periaqueductal grey, or that anatomical midbrain deformities can be associated with chronic interruption of mesencephalic blood flow [24]. While, this type of parkinsonism is caused by frontal lobe dysfunction resulting from midbrain dysfunction. Furthermore, previous studies showed corpus callosum hyperintensity in patients with hydrocephalus after VP shunt [36], and based on this finding, some authors believe that impingement on the corpus callosum by the rigid falx or stretching of the corpus callosum and pericallosal artery by the dilatation of the lateral ventricles may cause axonal degeneration or vascular insufficiency of the corpus callosum and result in atrophy of the frontal cortical regions [23].

Two treatments for parkinsonism after VP shunt have been used in the literature: levodopa and ETV. According to the physiopathology mentioned above, if the presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway is involved, the patient should have a positive response to levodopa. In previous case reports, 28 patients (28/38) were treated with high-dose levodopa with a maximum dose of 1500 mg/d [7, 9, 10, 1221, 2326, 29], and combination treatments such as amantadine and bromocriptine were used in 17 patients [8, 1315, 18, 2426, 29]. Twenty-three patients (23/28) who were on levodopa had significant positive effects after 3 days to 6 months of treatment; their clinical symptoms were obviously improved, the dose of levodopa could be reduced slowly after 1 year, and no recurrence was observed after the drug therapy was stopped [7, 9, 1214, 1620, 2327, 29].

Conversely, when levodopa has a poor effect or the cortico-basal ganglia loop is involved, ETV has been shown to significantly improve parkinsonism by restoring blood supply to allow adequate dopamine uptake in the brain’s frontal cortex [10]. Five cases were reported to have poor responses to high-dose dopaminergic drugs and no improvement after longer-term treatment with larger doses; this resistance suggests that parkinsonism could also arise from the disturbance of more distal connections than the presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway in the cortico-basal ganglia loop. PET results support this hypothesis, and ETV treatment has resulted in improved prognoses [10, 15, 21, 22]. In some patients, ETV to improve symptoms should be selected as soon as possible after the occurrence of slit ventricle syndrome following VP shunt, and shunt revision and levodopa therapy are usually ineffective [23]. Some authors have proposed that ETV alone can lead to complete remission of global rostral midbrain dysfunction. Another option for treatment is levodopa administration after ETV [10, 15]. However, there is no clear consensus on this matter, and further study is warranted.

Our patient was diagnosed with parkinsonism after VP shunt due to presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway impairment. Interestingly, his symptoms were significantly aggravated by antipsychotic medications, which could be explained by a “two-hit” mechanism. Fluctuations in the lateral ventricle represented the first hit to the presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway, and antipsychotic drugs had an antagonistic effect on dopamine D2 receptors, providing the second hit; thus, the patient’s clinical symptoms were rapidly aggravated. This situation has rarely been seen in cases of patients with parkinsonism after VP shunt reported previously. Therefore, our report provides clinicians with an important reminder: patients with parkinsonism after VP shunt are not suitable candidates to receive dopamine D2 receptor blockers.

Unfortunately, our patient was not evaluated for DAT/VMAT2 PET (at present, DAT/VMAT2 PET replaces 18 F-DOPA PET) because of financial constraints. However, the good efficacy of high-dose Madopar supported the mechanistic hypothesis described above.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank AJE Digital Editing (www.aje.com) for providing English language editing and review services.

Abbreviations

VP

ventriculoperitoneal

ETV

endoscopic third ventriculostomy

mg

milligrams

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

CT

computed tomography

PET

positron emission tomography

SPECT

single-photon emission computed tomography.

Authors’ contributions

Yue Z and Yan Z contributed to the conception and design of the manuscript. Yue Z and WC collected the data and drafted the manuscript. WM and YW reviewed and modified the manuscript. All authors contributed to manuscript revision and read and approved the final submitted version.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2020YFC2005403) and by the Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals Incubating Program (PX2020035). The funder’s role was limited to providing English editing of the manuscript, and they did not participate in the conduct of this case report.

Availability of data and materials

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed.

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from the patient to publish this case, and approval for this study was provided by Research Ethics Committee of the Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University.

Consent for publication

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and the accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.

Competing interests

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or nonfinancial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Footnotes

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Yue Zhang and Bi W. Chen contributed equally to this work.

References

  • 1.Jorgensen J, Williams C, Sarang-Sieminski A. Hydrocephalus and Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts: modes of failure and Opportunities for Improvement. Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2016;44(1–2):91–7. doi: 10.1615/CritRevBiomedEng.2016017149. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Isaacs AM, Ball CG, Hamilton MG. Neuronavigation and laparoscopy guided ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion for the treatment of hydrocephalus. J Vis Exp 2022;(188). [DOI] [PubMed]
  • 3.Pearce JM. Parinaud’s syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2005;76(1):99. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2003.031310. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Postuma RB, Berg D, Stern M, Poewe W, Olanow CW, Oertel W, Obeso J, Marek K, Litvan I, Lang AE, et al. MDS clinical diagnostic criteria for Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2015;30(12):1591–601. doi: 10.1002/mds.26424. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Respondek G, Roeber S, Kretzschmar H, Troakes C, Al-Sarraj S, Gelpi E, Gaig C, Chiu WZ, van Swieten JC, Oertel WH, et al. Accuracy of the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke/Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and neuroprotection and natural history in Parkinson plus syndromes criteria for the diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy. Mov Disord. 2013;28(4):504–9. doi: 10.1002/mds.25327. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Arai H. [Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus–its concept and diagnostic criteria] Nihon Rinsho. 2011;69(Suppl 10 Pt):461–5. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Asamoto S, Sugiyama H, Doi H, Yokochi M, Hirabayashi K, Tanaka S, Sugiura K, Nakama H, Matsumoto K. Levodopa effective parkinsonism associated with aqueductal stenosis: a case report and review of the literature. No Shinkei Geka. 1998;26(12):1089–92. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Berger L, Gauthier S, Leblanc R. Akinetic mutism and parkinsonism associated with obstructive hydrocephalus. Can J Neurol Sci. 1985;12(3):255–8. doi: 10.1017/S0317167100047119. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Curran T, Lang AE. Parkinsonian syndromes associated with hydrocephalus: case reports, a review of the literature, and pathophysiological hypotheses. Mov Disord. 1994;9(5):508–20. doi: 10.1002/mds.870090503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Hashizume A, Watanabe H, Matsuo K, Katsuno M, Tanaka F, Nagatani T, Sobue G. Endoscopic third ventriculotomy improves parkinsonism following a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt in a patient with non-communicating hydrocephalus secondary to idiopathic aqueduct stenosis. J Neurol Sci. 2011;309(1–2):148–50. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2011.07.025. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Keane JR. Tremor as the result of shunt obstruction: four patients with cysticercosis and secondary parkinsonism: report of four cases. Neurosurgery. 1995;37(3):520–2. doi: 10.1227/00006123-199509000-00023. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Kim MJ, Chung SJ, Sung YH, Lee MC, Im JH. Levodopa-responsive parkinsonism associated with hydrocephalus. Mov Disord. 2006;21(8):1279–81. doi: 10.1002/mds.20901. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Kinugawa K, Itti E, Lepeintre JF, Mari I, Czernecki V, Heran F, Clemenceau S, Vidailhet M, Roze E. Subacute dopa-responsive parkinsonism after successful surgical treatment of aqueductal stenosis. Mov Disord. 2009;24(16):2438–40. doi: 10.1002/mds.22862. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Ochiai H, Yamakawa Y, Miyata S, Kawasoe T. [L-dopa effective parkinsonism appeared after shunt revision of the aqueductal stenosis: report of two cases] No To Shinkei. 2000;52(5):425–9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Okawa S, Sanpei Y, Sugawara M, Nakazawa M, Endo T, Ohnishi H. Parkinsonism improved with levodopa after endoscopic third ventriculostomy in shunted hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis. Neurologist. 2015;20(1):4–7. doi: 10.1097/NRL.0000000000000035. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Prashantha DK, Netravathi M, Ravishankar S, Panda S, Pal PK. Reversible parkinsonism following ventriculoperitoneal shunt in a patient with obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to intraventricular neurocysticercosis. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2008;110(7):718–21. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2008.03.008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Racette BA, Esper GJ, Antenor J, Black KJ, Burkey A, Moerlein SM, Videen TO, Kotagal V, Ojemann JG, Perlmutter JS. Pathophysiology of parkinsonism due to hydrocephalus. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004;75(11):1617–9. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2003.028449. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Rebai RM, Houissa S, Mustapha ME, Azzouni H, Assaggaf S. Akinetic mutism and parkinsonism after multiple shunt failure: case report and literature review. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg. 2012;73(5):341–6. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1313632. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Sakurai T, Kimura A, Yamada M, Hayashi Y, Tanaka Y, Hozumi I, Inuzuka T. [Rapidly progressive parkinsonism that developed one year after ventriculoperitoneal shunting for idiopathic aqueductal stenosis: a case report] Brain Nerve. 2010;62(5):527–31. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Shahar E, Lambert R, Hwang PA, Hoffman HJ. Obstructive hydrocephalus-induced parkinsonism. I: decreased basal ganglia regional blood flow. Pediatr Neurol. 1988;4(2):117–9. doi: 10.1016/0887-8994(88)90052-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Shpiner DS, Margolesky J, Singer C, Lizarraga KJ. Transtentorial fluctuations and atypical parkinsonism after ventriculo-peritoneal shunting. Can J Neurol Sci. 2021;48(4):582–4. doi: 10.1017/cjn.2020.228. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Tokunaga H, Shigeto H, Inamura T, Kawajiri M, Nakasaki K, Furuya H, Kira J. [A case of severe parkinsonism induced by failure of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt for aqueductal stenosis] Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 2003;43(7):427–30. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Yomo S, Hongo K, Kuroyanagi T, Kobayashi S. Parkinsonism and midbrain dysfunction after shunt placement for obstructive hydrocephalus. J Clin Neurosci. 2006;13(3):373–8. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2005.04.023. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Zeidler M, Dorman PJ, Ferguson IT, Bateman DE. Parkinsonism associated with obstructive hydrocephalus due to idiopathic aqueductal stenosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1998;64(5):657–9. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.64.5.657. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Zhou J, Chen Y, Huang C, Ming Y, Xiang W, Li S, Hu Q, Peng T, Chen L, Liu L. Parkinsonism after chronic subdural haematoma followed by ventriculoperitoneal shunt for obstructive hydrocephalus: a case report. Br J Neurosurg. 2019;33(3):302–4. doi: 10.1080/02688697.2017.1344616. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.da Costa AC, Pinheiro Júnior N, Godeiro Junior C, Fernandes ACA, de Queiroz CT, de Moura A, de Aquino CEF, De Araújo Rego M. Parkinsonism secondary to ventriculoperitoneal shunt in a patient with hydrocephalus. Surg Neurol Int. 2021;12:432. doi: 10.25259/SNI_629_2021. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Li DSWL, Guan HZ, Wei JJ, Peng B, Wang XH. Parkinsonism following ventriculoperitoneal shunt for treating hydrocephalus: clinical analysis on three cases. CJCNN Mar. 2017;17:127–32. [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Sun YFZW, Zhong JW, Wang T, Yuan J, Liu HZ, Liu HX, Dai GH. Analysis of 5 cases of parkinsonian syndromes after Ventriculo- peritoneal shunt for hydrocephalus. Acta Academiae Medicinae Cpapf. 2001;10:222–2. [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Villamil F, Varela F, Caffaratti G, Ricciardi M, Cammarota A, Cervio A. Global rostral midbrain syndrome (GRMS) and corpus callosum infarction in the context of shunt overdrainage. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2022;213:107098. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.107098. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Lau CI, Wang HC, Tsai MD, Hsu JL, Hsu WC, Chen JS, Ku CT. Acute Parkinsonian syndrome after ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction caused by a roller coaster ride. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2011;113(5):423–5. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2010.12.021. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Aggarwal S, Childers MK, Jimenez D. Use of carbidopa-levodopa in a patient with hydrocephalus and frozen movement. Brain Inj. 1997;11(11):831–6. doi: 10.1080/026990597123043. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Chang CC, Asada H, Mimura T, Suzuki S. A prospective study of cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity to acetazolamide in 162 patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus. J Neurosurg. 2009;111(3):610–7. doi: 10.3171/2008.10.17676. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Damier P, Hirsch EC, Agid Y, Graybiel AM. The substantia nigra of the human brain. II. Patterns of loss of dopamine-containing neurons in Parkinson’s disease. Brain. 1999;122(Pt 8):1437–48. doi: 10.1093/brain/122.8.1437. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Strafella AP, Ko JH, Grant J, Fraraccio M, Monchi O. Corticostriatal functional interactions in Parkinson’s disease: a rTMS/[11 C]raclopride PET study. Eur J Neurosci. 2005;22(11):2946–52. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04476.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Strafella AP, Vanderwerf Y, Sadikot AF. Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the human motor cortex influences the neuronal activity of subthalamic nucleus. Eur J Neurosci. 2004;20(8):2245–9. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03669.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 36.Youn J, Kovacs GG, Kongkham P, Fasano A. Corpus callosum hyperintensity in normal pressure hydrocephalus after ventriculoperitoneal Shunt. Neurology. 2021;96(23):1096–7. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012041. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Data Availability Statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed.


Articles from BMC Neurology are provided here courtesy of BMC

RESOURCES