Biological and psychological aspects of a case of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome.

The case of a 12-year-old girl with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome is presented, and the following factors are discussed: psychological aspects, urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG) and unconjugated amines, and CT scan findings. The most noticeable differences from normal controls seen in the urine studies were elevated levels of beta-phenylethylamine and the catecholamine metabolites normetanephrine, MHPG, and 3-methoxytyramine, and a decrease in 5-hydroxytryptamine. A CT scan revealed a slight increase in density in the caudate nuclei bilaterally; this was thought to be due to calcification.