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Definition of Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD)
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD): A condition that typically begins in childhood or adolescence with progressive difficulty in walking and, in some cases, spasticity and can be successfully treated with drugs.
Segawa dystonia is an important variant of dopa-responsive dystonia. In Segawa dystonia, the symptoms fluctuate during the day from relative mobility in the morning to increasing disability in the afternoon and evening and after exercise.
Dopa-responsive dystonia may not only be rare but also rarely diagnosed since it mimics some forms of cerebral palsy.