Effects of tandospirone citrate on frozen gait in patients with early stage of progressive supranuclear palsy, investigated by walk-induced activation single photon emission computed tomography method

We reported a 64-year-old woman in the early stage of progressive supranuclear palsy presenting as pure akinesia syndrome who showed marked improvement with tandospirone citrate. She revealed bradykinesia, severe frozen gait and disturbance of postural reflex without rigidity or tremor. Treatment with L-dopa and L-threo DOPS was not effective, but tandospirone citrate at a daily dosage of 30 mg significantly lessened the severity of frozen gait. Activation single photon emission computed tomography study with ^99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer during gait revealed a significant increase in brain activity in the right cingulate cortex after tandospirone citrate treatment. The effect lasted ten months until neck rigidity and ventricular supranuclear palsy were evident.