Dopamine-responsive dystonia

Dopamine-responsive dystonia, shortened to DRD and also called Segawa syndrome, is a genetic movement disorder that usually shows itself in early childhood, at around five to eight years of age, though the starting age varies. Its characteristic symptoms are increased muscle tone, called dystonia, which can appear as clubfoot, together with features resembling Parkinson disease. These symptoms are typically absent in the morning or after rest and get worse during the day and with exertion. Because of this pattern, children with the disorder are often misdiagnosed as having cerebral palsy. The disorder responds well to treatment with levodopa, which is the feature that gives the condition its name.