[The effects of nicotine on a patient with spinocerebellar degeneration whose symptoms temporarily exacerbated by cigarette smoking].

The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the influences of nicotine on a patient with spinocerebellar degeneration whose symptoms temporarily exacerbated by cigarette smoking. We have examined the influences of nicotine gum on cerebellar ataxia. Limb ataxia, dysarthria and truncal titubation were maximally aggravated 15 min after nicotine gum chewing, which paralleled blood nicotine level. Specific increased accumulation of 123I-IMP was observed in the cerebellum 15 min after nicotine gum load by 123I-IMP-SPECT. On the other hand, in a control with spinocerebellar degeneration whose symptoms not changed by nicotine gum load, the specific finding on 123I-IMP-SPECT was not detected. These findings suggested a direct effect of nicotine on the cerebellum.