Adrenal medullary transplantation for Parkinson's disease.

Autotransplantation of adrenal medullary tissue to the right caudate nucleus was performed in 8 patients (6 men and 2 women) with Parkinson's disease demonstrating mainly rigidity and bradykinesia. Their mean age was 52 years. The mean duration of Parkinson's disease was 7 years. Left adrenalectomy and open craniotomy were done to implant medullary tissue into the right caudate nucleus. The 6-month clinical findings were evaluated. 5 cases showed improvement, 2 cases remained unchanged and 1 was worse. There was no operative mortality, but 1 patient developed right frontal infarction postoperatively and 2 patients demonstrated subdural hygroma.