Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and Tuberculous Encephalitis: A Complex Case Report

Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism is a rare but significant complication of metabolic brain dysfunction, characterised by movement disorders following severe hypoglycaemia. We present a 65-year-old male with a 12-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia (AIHA), and re...

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Main Authors: Venkatramani Padma, Pusapati Lakshmi Chaitanya Varma, Sathyapriya, Mathisha Ebby Perin, Ishai Vannan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
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Online Access:https://jcdr.net/article_fulltext.asp?issn=0973-709x&year=2025&month=August&volume=19&issue=8&page=OD01-OD05&id=21279
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author Venkatramani Padma
Pusapati Lakshmi Chaitanya Varma
Sathyapriya
Mathisha Ebby Perin
Ishai Vannan
author_facet Venkatramani Padma
Pusapati Lakshmi Chaitanya Varma
Sathyapriya
Mathisha Ebby Perin
Ishai Vannan
author_sort Venkatramani Padma
collection DOAJ
description Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism is a rare but significant complication of metabolic brain dysfunction, characterised by movement disorders following severe hypoglycaemia. We present a 65-year-old male with a 12-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia (AIHA), and recent tuberculous encephalitis who was found unresponsive due to severe hypoglycaemia. Despite intravenous glucose administration, he developed new-onset Parkinsonism, manifesting as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Neurological imaging revealed hippocampal involvement on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), while a Dopamine Transporter (DaT) scan demonstrated reduced striatal uptake, confirming a dopaminergic deficit. The patient was managed with basal-bolus insulin therapy, corticosteroids for AIHA, and anti-tubercular treatment, while Parkinsonian symptoms improved with levodopa/carbidopa, trihexyphenidyl, and amantadine. Hypoglycaemia-induced neuronal injury results from metabolic failure, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and neuroinflammation, leading to selective neuronal necrosis, particularly affecting the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and substantia nigra. While some cases demonstrate reversible outcomes due to vasogenic oedema, others progress to irreversible neurodegeneration, emphasising the need for stringent glycaemic management and early recognition of neurological sequelae in diabetic patients.
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spelling doaj-art-15f00a4d25f04d339116fa0183550e222025-08-20T03:15:29ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2025-08-01198OD01OD0510.7860/JCDR/2025/74331.21279Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and Tuberculous Encephalitis: A Complex Case ReportVenkatramani Padma0Pusapati Lakshmi Chaitanya Varma1Sathyapriya2Mathisha Ebby Perin3Ishai Vannan4Professor, Department of General Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Junior Resident, Department of General Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Senior Resident, Department of General Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Junior Resident, Department of General Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism is a rare but significant complication of metabolic brain dysfunction, characterised by movement disorders following severe hypoglycaemia. We present a 65-year-old male with a 12-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia (AIHA), and recent tuberculous encephalitis who was found unresponsive due to severe hypoglycaemia. Despite intravenous glucose administration, he developed new-onset Parkinsonism, manifesting as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Neurological imaging revealed hippocampal involvement on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), while a Dopamine Transporter (DaT) scan demonstrated reduced striatal uptake, confirming a dopaminergic deficit. The patient was managed with basal-bolus insulin therapy, corticosteroids for AIHA, and anti-tubercular treatment, while Parkinsonian symptoms improved with levodopa/carbidopa, trihexyphenidyl, and amantadine. Hypoglycaemia-induced neuronal injury results from metabolic failure, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and neuroinflammation, leading to selective neuronal necrosis, particularly affecting the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and substantia nigra. While some cases demonstrate reversible outcomes due to vasogenic oedema, others progress to irreversible neurodegeneration, emphasising the need for stringent glycaemic management and early recognition of neurological sequelae in diabetic patients.https://jcdr.net/article_fulltext.asp?issn=0973-709x&year=2025&month=August&volume=19&issue=8&page=OD01-OD05&id=21279loss of consciousnessmagnetic resonance imagingmetabolic brain disordersmovement disorders
spellingShingle Venkatramani Padma
Pusapati Lakshmi Chaitanya Varma
Sathyapriya
Mathisha Ebby Perin
Ishai Vannan
Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and Tuberculous Encephalitis: A Complex Case Report
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
loss of consciousness
magnetic resonance imaging
metabolic brain disorders
movement disorders
title Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and Tuberculous Encephalitis: A Complex Case Report
title_full Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and Tuberculous Encephalitis: A Complex Case Report
title_fullStr Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and Tuberculous Encephalitis: A Complex Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and Tuberculous Encephalitis: A Complex Case Report
title_short Hypoglycaemia-induced Parkinsonism in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and Tuberculous Encephalitis: A Complex Case Report
title_sort hypoglycaemia induced parkinsonism in a patient with diabetes mellitus and tuberculous encephalitis a complex case report
topic loss of consciousness
magnetic resonance imaging
metabolic brain disorders
movement disorders
url https://jcdr.net/article_fulltext.asp?issn=0973-709x&year=2025&month=August&volume=19&issue=8&page=OD01-OD05&id=21279
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AT sathyapriya hypoglycaemiainducedparkinsonisminapatientwithdiabetesmellitusandtuberculousencephalitisacomplexcasereport
AT mathishaebbyperin hypoglycaemiainducedparkinsonisminapatientwithdiabetesmellitusandtuberculousencephalitisacomplexcasereport
AT ishaivannan hypoglycaemiainducedparkinsonisminapatientwithdiabetesmellitusandtuberculousencephalitisacomplexcasereport