Segawa disease.

A 14-year-old girl with Segawa disease is reported. The dystonic movement began at the age of three and slow progressive deterioration followed. The girl became bed-ridden and required assistance for all activities of daily living. Diurnal fluctuation and sleep benefit was clearly observed. Inheritence appears to be autosomal dominant. A dramatic, immediate and sustained response to L-dopa therapy was noted. This disorder is a form of treatable dystonia in childhood and adolescence and it is recommended that patients in this age group with primary dystonia should be given a trial of low dose L-dopa even though they have a chronic course or severe disability.