Movement disorder emergencies

The changing face of reported status dystonicus - A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Status Dystonicus (SD) represents the most severe end of the spectrum of dystonia. We aimed to explore whether reported features of cases of SD have changed over time.

METHODS

A systematic review of cases of SD reported from 2017 to 2023 and comparison of features to data extracted from 2 previous literature reviews (epochs 2012-2017 and pre-2012).

RESULTS

From 53 papers, a total 206 SD episodes in 168 patients were identified from 2017 to 2023. Combining data from all 3 epochs, a total of 339 SD episodes were reported from 277 patients. SD episodes occurred mostly in children, with a trigger identified in 63.4% of episodes, most commonly infection/inflammation. Most reported underlying aetiologies were genetic (e.g. 49.5% between 2017 and 2023), including new associated aetiologies in each epoch. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)-related SD increased over time. Neurosurgical interventions were more frequently reported in later epochs. Across the epochs, return to or improvement post SD episode, compared to baseline was reported above 70%. Reported mortality was 4.9% most recently, compared to 11.4% and 7.9%, previously.

CONCLUSIONS

SD episodes reported have more than doubled in the last 5 years. Reports of medication change-induced SD have become less frequent, whilst episodes of DBS-related SD have become more frequent. More dystonia aetiologies, including novel aetiologies have been reported in recent cohorts, reflecting advances in genetic diagnosis. Neurosurgical interventions are increasingly reported in the management of SD episodes, including novel use of intraventricular baclofen. Overall outcomes from SD remain largely unchanged over time. No prospective epidemiological studies of SD were identified.

Prevalence of Ophthalmic Manifestations Related to Tourette Syndrome Based on Big Data

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of ophthalmic manifestations in patients with Tourette syndrome using big data based on samples extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: The study participants included Korean patients under the age of 18 years who had received a Tourette syndrome diagnostic code (F95.2) between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2016. Ophthalmic manifestations reported to be related to Tourette syndrome such as tic disorder, blepharospasm, involuntary gaze abnormality, and strabismus were selected as ophthalmic clinical diagnostic codes; amblyopia and refractive errors that had never been investigated in conjunction with Tourette syndrome were also selected. Prevalence was investigated using big data. Results: A total of 3,643 Tourette syndrome patients (2,777 men and 866 women) were included in the study. The number of patients receiving a tic disorder diagnostic code was 3,643 (100%); blepharospasm, 48 (1.3%); involuntary gaze abnormalities, 9 (0.2%); and strabismus, 109 (3%). In addition, the number of patients receiving an amblyopia diagnostic code was 29 (0.8%), and the number of patients with a refractive errors code was 1,306 (35.8%). Conclusions: Tourette syndrome can be accompanied by several ophthalmic manifestations. Thus, cooperation between a neuropsychiatrist and an ophthalmologist, and regular ophthalmological examinations, are considered necessary.

Post-stroke Movement Disorders: Clinical Spectrum, Pathogenesis, and Management

Involuntary movements develop after 1-4% of strokes and they have been reported in patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes affecting the basal ganglia, thalamus, and/or their connections. Hemichorea-hemiballism is the most common movement disorder following a stroke in adults while dystonia is most common in children. Tremor, myoclonus, asterixis, stereotypies, and vascular parkinsonism are other movement disorders seen following stroke. Some of them occur immediately after acute stroke, some can develop later, and others may have delayed onset progressive course. Proposed pathophysiological mechanisms include neuronal plasticity, functional diaschisis, and age-related differences in brain metabolism. There are no guidelines regarding the management of post-stroke movement disorders, mainly because of their heterogeneity.

Emergency presentations of movement disorders

Movement disorders are typically perceived as being gradually progressive conditions that are managed in outpatient settings. However, they may manifest de novo with an acute severe phenotype or an acute decompensation. A movement disorder becomes an emergency when it evolves acutely or subacutely over hours to days; delays in its diagnosis and treatment may cause significant morbidity and mortality. Here we address the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of those movement disorder emergencies that are principally encountered in emergency departments, in acute receiving units or in intensive care units. We provide practical guidance for management in the acute setting where there are several treatable causes not to be missed. The suggested medication doses are predominantly based on expert opinion due to limited higher-level evidence. In spite of the rarity of movement disorder emergencies, neurologists need to be familiar with the phenomenology, potential causes and treatments of these conditions. Movement disorder emergencies divide broadly into two groups: hypokinetic and hyperkinetic, categorised according to their phenomenology. Most acute presentations are hyperkinetic and some are mixed.

Rethinking status dystonicus

Status dystonicus is a movement disorder emergency that has been a source of controversy in terms of terminology, phenomenology, and management since it was first described in 1982. Here we argue that the current use of the term status dystonicus falls well short of the precision needed for either clinical or academic use. We performed a critical review on this topic, describing possible pathophysiological mechanisms and areas of uncertainties. This review also addresses the problems derived by the extreme clinical heterogeneity of this condition, as the lack of an objective criterion useful for the definition, or the fact that status dystonicus may present not only in the context of a known dystonic syndrome. We propose a new possible definition that includes not only dystonia but also other hyperkinetic movements in the wide range of movement disorders that can be seen during an episode. The new definition keeps the term status dystonicus and highlights the fact that this is a medical emergency based on the impairment of bulbar and/or respiratory function requiring hospital admission as the principal feature. Furthermore, the new definition should not consider as necessary unspecific features as patient's condition at baseline, the distribution of dystonia, occurrence of systemic symptoms such as fever or laboratory findings. We hope that this proposal will stimulate the debate on this subject among our peers, further developing a clinical and pathophysiological understanding of status dystonicus. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Deep Brain Stimulation Emergencies: How the New Technologies Could Modify the Current Scenario

After 25 years of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, it has become increasingly recognized that a range of postoperative urgent situations and emergencies may occur. In this review we describe the possible scenarios of DBS-related emergencies: perioperative (intraoperative and early postoperative) and postoperative settings and issues from suboptimal control of motor and nonmotor symptoms in the early programming phase and during long-term follow-up. We also outline potential advantages in the management of these emergencies offered by the newest devices, emerging technologies, and new possibilities in programming.

A subtle mimicker in emergency department: Illustrated case reports of acute drug-induced dystonia

BACKGROUND

Movement disorder emergencies include any movement disorder which develops over hours to days, in which failure to appropriately diagnose and manage can result in patient morbidity or mortality.Movement disorder emergencies include acute dystonia: sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements. Acute dystonia is a serious challenge for emergency room doctors and neurologists, because of the high probability of misdiagnosis, due to the presence of several mimickers including partial seizures, meningitis, localized tetanus, serum electrolyte level abnormalities, strychnine poisoning, angioedema, malingering, catatonia, and conversion.

METHODS

We describe 2 examples, accompanied by videos, of acute drug-induced oro-mandibular dystonia, both subsequent to occasional haloperidol intake.

RESULTS

Management and treatment of this movement disorder are often difficult: neuroleptics withdrawal, treatment with benzodiazepines, and anticholinergics are recommended.

CONCLUSION

Alternative treatment options are also discussed.

Functional eye movement disorders

Functional (psychogenic) eye movement disorders are perhaps less established in the medical literature than other types of functional movement disorders. Patients may present with ocular symptoms (e.g., blurred vision or oscillopsia) or functional eye movements may be identified during the formal examination of the eyes in patients with other functional disorders. Convergence spasm is the most common functional eye movement disorder, but functional gaze limitation, functional eye oscillations (also termed "voluntary nystagmus"), and functional convergence paralysis may be underreported. This chapter reviews the different types of functional eye movement abnormalities and provides a practical framework for their diagnosis and management.

Treatment of movement disorder emergencies

Movement disorder emergencies are defined as clinical scenarios where a movement disorder develops over hours to days, and in which morbidity and even mortality can result from failure to appropriately diagnose and manage the patient. The last decade has seen increasing recognition of various movement disorder emergencies, including acute parkinsonism, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, respiratory compromise in multiple system atrophy, dystonic storm, oculogyric crisis, and hemiballism, among others. This article will review the major movement disorder emergencies encountered in the hospital and office, emphasizing practical management and treatment.

Post-stroke Movement Disorders: Clinical Manifestations and Pharmacological Management

Involuntary abnormal movements have been reported after ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Post stroke movement disorders can appear as acute or delayed sequel. At the moment, for many of these disorders the knowledge of pharmacological treatment is still inadequate. Dopaminergic and GABAergic systems may be mainly involved in post-stroke movement disorders. This article provides a review on drugs commonly used in post-stroke movement disorders, given that some post-stroke movement disorders have shown a partial benefit with pharmacological approach.

Movement disorders emergencies: a review

Movement disorders (MD) encompass acute and chronic diseases characterized by involuntary movements and/or loss of control or efficiency in voluntary movements. In this review, we covered situations in which the main manifestations are MDs that pose significant risks for acute morbidity and mortality. The authors examine literature data on the most relevant MD emergencies, including those related to Parkinson's disease, acute drug reactions (acute dystonia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, serotonergic syndrome and malignant hyperthermia), acute exacerbation of chronic MD (status dystonicus), hemiballism and stiff-person syndrome, highlighting clinical presentation, demographics, diagnosis and management.

Management of refractory status epilepticus in adults: still more questions than answers

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is defined as status epilepticus that continues despite treatment with benzodiazepines and one antiepileptic drug. RSE should be treated promptly to prevent morbidity and mortality; however, scarce evidence is available to support the choice of specific treatments. Major independent outcome predictors are age (not modifiable) and cause (which should be actively targeted). Recent recommendations for adults suggest that the aggressiveness of treatment for RSE should be tailored to the clinical situation. To minimise intensive care unit-related complications, focal RSE without impairment of consciousness might initially be approached conservatively; conversely, early induction of pharmacological coma is advisable in generalised convulsive forms of the disorder. At this stage, midazolam, propofol, or barbiturates are the most commonly used drugs. Several other treatments, such as additional anaesthetics, other antiepileptic or immunomodulatory compounds, or non-pharmacological approaches (eg, electroconvulsive treatment or hypothermia), have been used in protracted RSE. Treatment lasting weeks or months can sometimes result in a good outcome, as in selected patients after encephalitis or autoimmune disorders. Well designed prospective studies of RSE are urgently needed.

Use of antiepileptic drugs for hyperkinetic movement disorders

Many studies investigated the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in several neurological diseases other than epilepsy. These neurological disorders, usually, involve neuronal excitability through the modulating of ion channels, receptors and intracellular signaling pathways, and are the targets of the AEDs. This article provides a review of the clinical efficacy of both conventional and newer AEDs in hyperkinetic movement disorders. Some of these indications for AEDs have been established, while others are under investigation. The modulation of GABAergic transmission may explain the neuronal hyper-excitability that underlies some forms of hyperkinetic movement disorders. So, AEDs able to increase GABAergic neurotransmission may play a role in hyperkinetic movement disorders treatment. Therefore, AEDs could represent a useful therapeutic option in the management of hyperkinetic movement disorders where the available treatments are ineffective.

Identification and management of deep brain stimulation intra- and postoperative urgencies and emergencies

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been increasingly utilized for the therapeutic treatment of movement disorders, and with the advent of this therapy more postoperative urgencies and emergencies have emerged. In this paper, we will review, identify, and suggest management strategies for both intra- and postoperative urgencies and emergencies. We have separated the scenarios into 1--surgery/procedure related, 2--hardware related, 3--stimulation-induced difficulties, and 4--others. We have included ten illustrative (and actual) case vignettes to augment the discussion of each issue.