Hyperglycemia as a cause of choreoathetosis: Two case reports and review of the literature

Further learning of clinical characteristics and imaging manifestations of nonketotic hyperglycemic hemichorea

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the clinical characteristics and imaging manifestations of patients with nonketotic hyperglycemic hemichorea (NH-HC) and to explore the possible pathogenesis, diagnosis. and treatment of the disease in order to improve the understanding of this disease and avoid misdiagnosis.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was performed on the case data of five patients with NH-HC admitted to our hospital in recent years. The patients were treated in the department of endocrinology, department of neurology, and department of neurosurgery in our hospital, respectively. Meanwhile, relevant literatures were consulted for further learning.

RESULTS

NH-HC is usually presented as a triad of nonketotic hyperglycemia, lateral chorea, and typical imaging manifestations of head magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography, but the clinical manifestations are not the same, and imaging features may also be different, presenting a diversified trend in clinical practice. All five patients were given glucose-lowering drugs and improved with or without combination of drugs to control symptoms of chorea.

CONCLUSION

NH-HC is a rare complication of diabetes, characterized by hyperglycemia and hemichorea. How to identify the extreme situation and make fast judgment is a top priority. Timely and correct control of blood glucose is the key to the treatment, and when necessary, application of dopamine receptor antagonists in patients with combination therapy can accelerate improvement of the clinical symptoms. The prognosis of NH-HC is good, the clinician should strengthen comprehensive understanding of this disease to avoid missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis and enable patients to get more timely and effective treatment.

Revealing Non-ketotic Hyperglycemia as a Trigger for Hemichorea-Hemiballismus in Uncontrolled Diabetic Asthmatics: A Case Report

Uncontrolled diabetes can trigger a movement disorder called hemichorea-hemiballismus, characterized by non-ketotic hyperglycemia-related chorea/ballism and usually reversible basal ganglia abnormalities on CT and/or MRI. The condition is diagnosed clinically and is mostly based on radiological imaging. Here, we report a case of a 68-year-old female presenting with right-sided and facial involuntary movements owing to uncontrolled hyperglycemia who was treated with antidiabetic and anticholinergic medications. The patient responded well to the treatment and showed a favorable outcome with no complications.

Hemichorea as initial presentation of newly diagnosed diabetes and acute lacunar stroke

Hemichorea is one of the spectrums of involuntary, continuous, non-purposeful movement of one side of the body, a choreiform disorder. Hemichorea causes vary and include various inherited or acquired systemic conditions. There might be overlapping pathophysiology where the synergistic effects of uncontrolled hyperglycemia and vascular insufficiency cause an incomplete transient dysfunction of the striatum, leading to hemichorea.

We herein describe a patient who presented with hemichorea triggered by hyperglycemia and was incidentally found to have an acute lacunar stroke. She was initiated on insulin with good glycemic control. Secondary stroke prevention therapy with aspirin and statin was also started. Her symptoms improved inpatient after stable glycemic control was achieved. After 3 months, her symptoms had completely resolved. Hemichorea is an unusual initial presentation for newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus or stroke. Hence, recognizing and diagnosing this uncommon disease entity is pertinent to make a timely and accurate diagnosis, which can lead to a rapid clinical response.

Chorea associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia: A case report with atypical imaging changes

INTRODUCTION

This is a unique case of nonketotic hyperglycemic (NKH) chorea in 84-year-old Asian woman. The patient had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus more than 30 years, but had a poor control of blood sugar. She complained of acute onset of bilateral limb involuntary activities, and being easy to fall within a week. Laboratory testing disclosed hyperglycemia (669 mg/dL), glycated hemoglobin (14%), and normal ketones. The brain computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging did not disclose any abnormality in the basal ganglion unlike most cases. The patient was then diagnosed with NKH chorea. Her symptoms improved quickly.

CONCLUSIONS

NKH chorea with normal imaging may represent a new subtype.