Dystonia and chorea in acquired systemic disorders

Role of Botulinum Toxin in Treatment of Secondary Dystonia: A Case Series and Overview of Literature

INTRODUCTION

Dystonia can present in primary and secondary forms, depending on co-occurring symptoms and syndromic associations. In contrast to primary dystonia, secondary forms of dystonia are often associated with lesions in the putamen or globus pallidus. Such disorders are commonly neurodegenerative or neurometabolic conditions which produce varied neurologic as well as systemic manifestations other than dystonia. Chemo-denervation with botulinum toxin has been successfully used for focal or segmental dystonia. However, studies evaluating the effect of BoNT therapy on patients with secondary dystonia are sparse, given the heterogeneity in etiology and presentation.

METHODS

We present a series of patients with secondary dystonia who were managed with botulinum toxin therapy. Patients included in this series had a confirmed neurometabolic cause of dystonia.

RESULTS

A total of 14 patients, with ages ranging from 17 to 36 years, with disorders including Wilson's disease, pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC), glutaric aciduria type 1, Sanfilippo syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIb), and GM2 gangliosidosis (Sandhoff disease) are presented. Most patients experienced a mild to moderate improvement in treated dystonia with benefits ranging from 6 to 12 weeks, with the median length of the benefits lasting approximately eight weeks, without any significant adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

Although the secondary causes of dystonia are complex and diverse, our presented data and the available reports of the use of botulinum toxin support the conclusion that chemo-denervation plays an important role in symptom alleviation.

Dancing Out of Step: A Case of Tuberculous Meningitis Presenting as Childhood Chorea

Background

Acute to subacute pediatric movement disorders require prompt diagnosis to identify potentially treatable diseases.

Case Report

We present a 6-year-old male with a three-week history of generalized chorea transitioning to predominantly right-sided hemichorea and then to left hemiplegia.

Discussion

We review the mechanisms in tuberculous meningitis underlying his movement abnormalities.

Overview of management of infection-related movement disorders with focus on specific-infections

Infections are important treatable causes of secondary movement disorders (MD) that can have heterogeneous presentations. According to various studies, infection-related movement disorders (IRMD) account for around 10-20% of secondary MD. Certain infections have a predilection for causing various MD, and some MD phenomenologies, such as acute cerebellar ataxia and opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndromes (OMAS), suggest a strong possibility of an underlying infectious cause. The underlying pathophysiology is multifaceted, including direct neuronal damage due to neurotropism, granulomas, abscesses causing structural damage, and inflammatory and autoimmune responses triggered by infections. Understanding the prevalence, spectrum, and pattern of these IRMD and common infections that are responsible helps in early diagnosis, and instituting appropriate, timely treatment, thereby improving the overall prognosis and avoiding unnecessary investigations. In this review, we aim to provide a brief overview of common infections associated with MD, common clinical presentations of IRMD, their underlying pathophysiology, and overall approach to their treatment, with a focus on specific treatments of prevalent and treatable IRMD.

Chorea and Cognitive Impairment in JAK2V617F-Positive Myeloproliferative Disorders: A Case Report and Literature Review

Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder, accompanied by dystonia, myoclonus, tics, stereotypies, and tremors. It is characterized by excessive, purposeless movements that are distressing, irregularly timed, and randomly distributed. Chorea can be present in many diseases, such as hereditary, metabolic disturbance, drug-induced, and functional disorders, and, rarely, genetic, autoimmune, and infectious diseases. Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that leads to ineffective clonal hematopoiesis, fibrous tissue deposits in the bone marrow, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and splenomegaly. In rare cases, following uncertain pathological mechanisms, it can present with chorea, particularly affecting the limbs, head, and orofaciolingual muscles. We present a case of a male patient with evolving PMF over several years who was admitted for progressive cognitive impairment and generalized involuntary movement disorder. We also present a review of all cases of myeloproliferative disorders presenting with chorea published in the last 40 years.

ACUTE CHOREO-DYSTONIA IN A NEWLY DIAGNOSED PATIENT WITH DIABETES MELLITUS: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is a disease with diverse macrovascular and microvascular consequences. One of the unusual effects of hyperglycemia is involuntary movement, termed hyperglycemia-induced involuntary movement. This could range from hemibalismus, chorea, choreo-atethosis, tremors to dystonia. Chorea associated with dystonia is a less commonly reported manifestation. When it is focal, it can be misdiagnosed as stroke or seizure disorder. To the best our knowledge, there is hitherto no case report in sub-Saharan Africa describing the occurrence of focal choreo-dystonia in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Case presentation

Here, we present a case of a middle-aged Nigerian woman with focal choreo-dystonia of the right upper limb accompanying the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Achieving euglycemia with insulin resulted in complete resolution of the choreo-dystonia.

Conclusion

Doctors in resource-constrained settings should be aware of this presentation to avoid misdiagnosis and to provide prompt and goal-oriented management with a view to reducing morbidity and attendant health-care costs.

Chorea: An unusual manifestation of endocrine diseases

Chorea is a movement disorder involving involuntary movements of muscles of the face, neck, and limbs, usually caused by basal ganglia lesions. As an important part of the presentation of many neurological diseases, chorea is also an unusual manifestation of endocrine diseases and can be challenging to diagnose. Although the most common etiology of chorea is genetic, it is vital to identify acquired or symptomatic chorea, as these are potentially treatable conditions. This review summarizes the latest developments in various endocrine disease-related chorea, which will help clinicians to correctly identify and accurately treat it.

Position-dependent arm dyskinesia due to severe craniocervical malformation

CONTEXT

Spinal-generated movement disorders are a complex group of medical conditions, frequently misdiagnosed, originating in the spinal cord or from combined peripheral and central nervous system involvement. In this case report, we describe a novel form of position-dependent dyskinesia due to severe craniocervical malformation.

FINDINGS

An 83-year-old woman with basilar invagination at the C2 vertebra above the line of Chamberlain, occipitocervical lordosis, platybasia with a short clivus, ankylosis of the C1-C2 complex and fusion of the C1 arch developed an unusual pattern of position-dependent left arm dyskinesia triggered by bending her neck forward with simultaneous contact of the flexed elbow with a flat surface. Symptoms did not improve with anticonvulsants and she progressed and died suddenly.

CONCLUSION/CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A newly described form of position-dependent arm dyskinesia can be associated with severe craniocervical malformation.

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.

Cryptococcal Meningitis Causing Refractory Hemichorea-Hemiballismus Treated With Pallidotomy

We report a case of a 31-year-old immunocompetent male who presented with altered mental status and agitation requiring intubation. As sedation was weaned, he demonstrated choreiform movements with associated hemiballismus of the right upper and lower extremities, and he was ultimately diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis. The patient’s chorea did not terminate after the completion of induction antifungal therapy and all pharmacologic options for the management of chorea were ineffective. He underwent a successful unilateral pallidotomy using standard stereotactic methodology targeting the posterior-ventral pallidum, and his choreiform movements dramatically improved post-operatively within 48 hours.

Neuropsychiatric Derangement by Polycythemia Vera: A Case Report of an Unexpected Disease Presentation and Review of the Literature

Cerebral infarction as well as other thromboses, headaches, and visual complaints are well-known symptoms of polycythemia vera. However, chorea and neuropsychiatric disturbances are less recognized consequences of this chronic disease. Whereas chorea is a rare but acknowledged symptom of polycythemia vera, neuropsychiatric symptoms have only sporadically been reported. We depict 2 patients with an unusual presentation of polycythemia vera. Our first patient presented with right-sided hemiballism and psychosis, and the second patient had a long diagnostic trajectory of unexplained chorea. In both cases diagnosis of JAK2 positive polycythemia vera was established, and in both cases remarkable recovery occurred after the initiation of phlebotomies. The underlying pathophysiology of these symptoms has not been clearly elucidated. Because of the unfamiliarity of the link between especially neuropsychiatric symptoms and polycythemia, current reported numbers are probably an underestimation. Benefit of treatment appears to be large. We seek to create more awareness among physicians about this phenomenon.

Movement Disorders Due to Selective Basal Ganglia Lesions with Uremia

BACKGROUND

Basal ganglia (BG) lesions are rarely reported in patients with uremia and may manifest by movement disorders. However, their exact incidence and pathogenesis have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to determine the frequency, types, risk variables (clinical, laboratory, and imaging), and manifestations of BG lesions with uremia and patients' neurologic outcomes.

METHODS

This observational study included 70 adults (mean age: 45.87 ± 3.36 years; duration of uremia: 5.5 ± 1.5 years). They underwent extensive evaluations (clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging) and had prospectively evaluated clinically every 3 months for 2 years. Repeated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brains were done to patients with movement disorders and correlated with their neurologic outcomes.

RESULTS

BG lesions were found in 15 patients (21.4%) and 6 (8.6%) had movement disorders [Parkinsonism (n = 4), choreo-dystonia (n = 1) and dystonia (n = 1)] after the onset of uremia (mean = 10 months). There were no characteristic risk variables that distinguished patients with movement disorders from those without. Five developed movement disorders prior to the period of the study and one was de novo. The majority was females and had diabetes and higher frequencies of abnormal renal dysfunction, metabolic derangements, and white matter hyperintensities in MRIs. Movement disorders persisted in all patients despite the resolution of neuroimaging in three patients.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no clear threshold for renal failure to result in movement disorders due to BG lesions. The clinical outcome is variables depending on each patient's comorbidities and complications. Persistent neuronal damage (due to uremic toxins/metabolic/nutritional and ischemic/microvascular factors) has been suggested as the cause of poor neurologic outcomes.

Generalized and orofacial choreoathetosis: a case report of anti-CV2 paraneoplastic syndrome after cardiac arrest

CV2/CRMP5 is the most common antibody accompaniment of paraneoplastic choreoathetosis. We present a case of paraneoplastic choreothetosis with associated cerebellar dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and likely dysautonomia. Our patient developed a movement disorder after a cardiopulmonary arrest, which unfortunately masked the true etiology of his symptoms. He was later found to have extensive stage small cell lung cancer, with further evaluation revealing seropositivity for anti-CV2 antibodies. Choreoathetosis is a known sequelae of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, but clinicians should continue to keep an open mind. The utility of immunotherapy is unclear in these circumstances and many physicians adopt a symptom-based approach.

A narrative review of pharmacologic approaches to symptom management of pediatric patients diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis (ANMDARE) is one of the most common autoimmune encephalitis in the pediatric population. Patients with ANMDARE initially present with a prodrome of neuropsychiatric symptoms followed by progressively worsening seizures, agitation, and movement disorders. Complications can include problems such as aggression, insomnia, catatonia, and autonomic instability. Due to the complexity of this disease process, symptom management can be complex and may lead to significant polypharmacy. The goal of this review is to educate clinicians about the challenges of managing this disorder and providing guidance in symptom management.

Cervical Myeloradiculopathy and Atlantoaxial Instability in Cervical Dystonia

OBJECTIVE

Atlantoaxial instability, although rarely reported in the literature, can be associated with cervical dystonia (CD) and may lead to compression of the cord at the craniovertebral junction. We present a case series of 4 patients of longstanding CD with neurologic complications. Treatment strategies and challenges are discussed.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 4 cases of longstanding CD with complications of myelopathy or radiculopathy.

RESULTS

The average age at onset of complications was 28 years (range, 17-37). The average duration of CD was 23.75 years. Narrowing of the craniovertebral junction was seen in 3 patients, of which 2 had os odontoideum, and 1 had rotational malalignment at the atlantoaxial joint. One patient had disc desiccation with bulge and intramedullary signal changes in the cord at C3-4 level. Medical treatment was not satisfactory, but botulinum toxin was partly useful in all. One patient had sequelae of myelopathy and did recover partially after deep brain stimulation. Of the 2 patients who underwent surgical fixation with a fusion of the spine, one improved, and the other had no improvement due to irreversible cord damage. The overall outcome was satisfactory only in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Early-onset CD can lead to cord complications at a young age and at higher levels of the cervical spine and at the cervicovertebral junction. Comprehensive management by a multidisciplinary team is crucial to prevent complications early.

Autoregressive modeling to assess stride time pattern stability in individuals with Huntington's disease

Background

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive, neurological disorder that results in both cognitive and physical impairments. These impairments affect an individual’s gait and, as the disease progresses, it significantly alters one’s stability. Previous research found that changes in stride time patterns can help delineate between healthy and pathological gait. Autoregressive (AR) modeling is a statistical technique that models the underlying temporal patterns in data. Here the AR models assessed differences in gait stride time pattern stability between the controls and individuals with HD. Differences in stride time pattern stability were determined based on the AR model coefficients and their placement on a stationarity triangle that provides a visual representation of how the patterns mean, variance and autocorrelation change with time. Thus, individuals who exhibit similar stride time pattern stability will reside in the same region of the stationarity triangle. It was hypothesized that individuals with HD would exhibit a more altered stride time pattern stability than the controls based on the AR model coefficients and their location in the stationarity triangle.

Methods

Sixteen control and twenty individuals with HD performed a five-minute walking protocol. Time series’ were constructed from consecutive stride times extracted during the protocol and a second order AR model was fit to the stride time series data. A two-sample t-test was performed on the stride time pattern data to identify differences between the control and HD groups.

Results

The individuals with HD exhibited significantly altered stride time pattern stability than the controls based on their AR model coefficients (AR1 p < 0.001; AR2 p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The AR coefficients successfully delineated between the controls and individuals with HD. Individuals with HD resided closer to and within the oscillatory region of the stationarity triangle, which could be reflective of the oscillatory neuronal activity commonly observed in this population. The ability to quantitatively and visually detect differences in stride time behavior highlights the potential of this approach for identifying gait impairment in individuals with HD.

Palm Fruit Bioactives augment expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase in the Nile Grass Rat basal ganglia and alter the colonic microbiome

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-tyrosine to L-DOPA. This is the rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of the catecholamines - dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EP). Catecholamines (CA) play a key role as neurotransmitters and hormones. Aberrant levels of CA are associated with multiple medical conditions, including Parkinson's disease. Palm Fruit Bioactives (PFB) significantly increased the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase in the brain of the Nile Grass rat (NGR), a novel and potentially significant finding, unique to PFB among known botanical sources. Increases were most pronounced in the basal ganglia, including the caudate-putamen, striatum and substantia nigra. The NGR represents an animal model of diet-induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), exhibiting hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance associated with hyperphagia and accelerated postweaning weight gain induced by a high-carbohydrate diet (hiCHO). The PFB-induced increase of TH in the basal ganglia of the NGR was documented by immuno-histochemical staining (IHC). This increase in TH occurred equally in both diabetes-susceptible and diabetes-resistant NGR fed a hiCHO. PFB also stimulated growth of the colon microbiota evidenced by an increase in cecal weight and altered microbiome.  The metabolites of colon microbiota, e.g. short-chain fatty acids, may influence the brain and behavior significantly.

Laboratory Evaluation of Spasmodic Dysphonia

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the utility of comprehensive laboratory evaluation in patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHODS

A review of the medical records of 40 patients diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia from 2009-2018 was preformed to evaluate abnormal test results that were significant when compared with abnormal results of the general population and for any other clinically relevant pathology.

RESULTS

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ceruloplasmin levels, and anti-AChR were found to be elevated at levels considered statistically significant (p <0.05). Furthermore, we found levels of cholesterol, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T3, fasting blood glucose, creatine kinase, immunoglobulin, antinuclear antibody (ANA), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels to be abnormal at a greater rate in our population, but these were not statistically significant. Workup revealed several underlying conditions including thyroid neoplasms, hypothyroidism, and laryngopharyngeal reflux. Additionally, brain MRI revealed age-related ischemic pathology in an elevated number of patients, but with no obvious clinical sequalae.

CONCLUSION

There is an association between serological values and spasmodic dysphonia that can aid in diagnosing pathology, as well as establishing a directed workup. Additionally, our study shows the utility of comprehensive evaluation in identifying undetected disease.

Adult-Onset Isolated Hemichorea Revealing Iatrogenic Hypoparathyroidism and Bilateral Basal Ganglia Calcification

Isolated hemichorea (HC) in adults has a relatively restricted differential diagnosis including stroke of contralateral basal ganglia nuclei, nonketotic hyperglycemia, and basal ganglia toxoplasmosis in HIV infection. Hypoparathyroidism-related basal ganglia calcification can potentially cause neurological problems, including movement disorders, that are usually bilateral in keeping with bilateral symmetric lesions. We report a patient with video-documented isolated, adult-onset HC due to iatrogenic hypoparathyroidism and bilateral basal ganglia calcification. A 47-year-old woman presented with isolated adult-onset HC of 2 years' duration as the presenting and only neurological feature of hypoparathyroidism and bilateral extensive basal ganglia calcification, 20 years after thyroidectomy-induced hypoparathyroidism. Significant improvement in the unilateral hyperkinesia was noted after correction of hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism at 3 months. Isolated HC in adults is a rare presenting feature of hypoparathyroidism with bilateral basal ganglia calcification and is treatable with correction of the underlying metabolic abnormality. In all cases with a movement disorder and brain calcification, hypoparathyroidism should be actively sought as this treatable condition must not be missed.

Acute dyskinesia in a patient with schizophrenia

A case of acute dyskinesia in a 42-year-old man with a history of cocaine use and schizophrenia is described. He had discontinued clozapine approximately 1 month before presenting to the emergency department displaying signs of psychosis, with generalised choreiform and dystonic movements. Urinary toxicology was positive for cocaine. Clozapine treatment was reinitiated, and within 2 weeks the dyskinesia had subsided. Review of his records revealed two previous episodes of similar dyskinesia, both of which were temporally associated with cocaine use. Dyskinesia occurring in the context of cocaine use, and clozapine withdrawal-associated dyskinesia were considered to be the main differential diagnoses. A range of differential diagnoses should be considered in patients presenting with an acute-onset movement disorder who have a history of long-term exposure to antipsychotic medication.

Phenytoin Induced Chorea: A Rare Adverse Effect of the Drug

BACKGROUND

Dyskinetic neurological diseases are common presentations of adverse reaction to many therapeutic agents. Phenytoin, a widely used age-old antiepileptic drug has been reported to cause dyskinesias, a rare Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) in adults with toxic therapeutic serum level. When the drug is used in combination with other drugs which augments free drug level of phenytoin or in patients of organic brain lesion, this side effect is very occasionally reported with even normal therapeutic drug level.

CLINICAL CASE

We report a case of young male presented with chorea after two months of starting phenytoin for primary generalised epilepsy with normal therapeutic serum drug level. After excluding other differentials, drug-induced chorea was the final diagnosis. Despite phenytoin level was in therapeutic range, we have a trial of stopping Phenytoin with complete disappearance of chorea in 3 days. On reintroduction of phenytoin in the same dose, there was the reappearance of chorea in onemonth re-emphasising the diagnosis as "phenytoin-induced chorea".

CONCLUSION

If any patient on phenytoin develops any new neurological feature including dyskinesias, it should be considered as an ADR despite drug serum level within the normal therapeutic range.

Sudden hemichorea and frontal lobe syndrome: a rare presentation of unbalanced polycythaemia vera

Polycythaemia vera (PV) is an haematological neoplasm that frequently presents neurological symptoms. However, chorea is a rare complication of this disease, occurring in less than 5% of the patients. Cognitive impairment related to PV unbalanced is also a rare complication, and it can improve with proper treatment. We present a 96-year-old-man with acute-onset hemichorea and frontal lobe syndrome with no vascular pathology in the basal ganglia or frontal region. A clear relationship was observed between the onset of involuntary movements and the cognitive impairment and worsening of haematological parameters in the patient. After causal and symptomatic treatment, the patient's clinical status improved. In the elderly, PV must be considered as a cause of acute chorea and sudden cognitive impairment, as early diagnosis leads to effective treatment and prevention of complications.

Primary CNS lymphoma in HIV infection

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) has been designated an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining disease since 1983 and accounts for up to 15% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. The majority of HIV patients are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related. The most likely etiology is ineffective immunoregulation of EBV, inducing oncogenic protein expression, and subsequent loss of apoptosis and increased proliferation of lymphocytes. PCNSL generally presents with supratentorial, single or multiple, contrast-enhancing lesions. Neurologic symptoms can be headache, cognitive function disorders, focal neurologic, deficit and epilepsy. Differential diagnosis includes other oncologic or infectious causes, with cerebral toxoplasmosis being the most important. Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics, activity on ²⁰¹thallium single-photon emission computed tomography, presence of EBV DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid, and toxoplasmosis serology can make either PCNSL or cerebral toxoplasmosis more or less likely. However, definitive diagnosis of PCNSL relies on histopathologic confirmation. First-choice treatment is combination antiretroviral therapy in combination with high-dose methotrexate(-based) chemotherapy in patients in whom this is feasible. Combination antiretroviral therapy combined with whole-brain radiotherapy may be an alternative. Treatment of EBV with antiviral agents such as ganciclovir or zidovudine may be beneficial, but this needs further study. Prognosis of HIV-related PCNSL is poor, with median survival varying from 2 to 4 months, but patients treated with chemotherapy do better (median survival 1.5 years).

Memantine-induced chorea and dystonia

Memantine is an uncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist and probably also has an indirect dopaminergic action at high concentrations. We describe a person with Alzheimer's disease who developed chorea and dystonia after inadvertently doubling of her daily dose by taking extended-release (XR) memantine twice daily, rather than once daily (planned dose memantine XR, 21 mg once daily), after the drug was switched from immediate release (IR, 10 mg twice daily). Memantine is rarely associated with movement disorders, but this case emphasises the need for awareness of potential problems when switching from memantine IR to XR.

TAK-063, a Novel Phosphodiesterase 10A Inhibitor, Protects from Striatal Neurodegeneration and Ameliorates Behavioral Deficits in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by progressive loss of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) that constitute direct and indirect pathways: the indirect pathway MSNs is more vulnerable than the direct pathway MSNs. Impairment of cAMP/cGMP signaling by mutant huntingtin is hypothesized as the molecular mechanism underlying degeneration of MSNs. Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) is selectively expressed in MSNs and degrades both cAMP and cGMP; thus, PDE10A inhibition can restore impaired cAMP/cGMP signaling. Compared with other PDE10A inhibitors, a novel PDE10A inhibitor 1-[2-fluoro-4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl]-5-methoxy-3-(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyridazin-4(1H)-one (TAK-063) showed comparable activation of the indirect pathway MSNs, whereas it produced partial activation of the direct pathway MSNs by its faster off-rate property. In this study, we report the effects of TAK-063 on striatal neurodegeneration and behavioral deficits in the R6/2 mouse model of HD. TAK-063 at 0.5 or 5 mg/kg/day was orally administrated from 4.5-5 to 12 weeks of age, and the effects of TAK-063 were characterized over this period. Repeated treatment with TAK-063 suppressed the reduction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, prevented striatal neurodegeneration, and suppressed increase in seizure frequency, but did not prevent the suppression of body weight gain. As for motor deficits, TAK-063 suppressed the development of clasping behavior and motor dysfunctions, including decreased motor activity in the open field, but did not improve the impairment in motor coordination on the rotarod. Regarding cognitive functions, TAK-063 improved deficits in procedural learning, but was ineffective for deficits in contextual memory. These results suggest that TAK-063 reduces striatal neurodegeneration and ameliorates behavioral deficits in R6/2 mice.

Acute hemichorea in a newly diagnosed type II diabetes patient: a diagnostic challenge in resource-limited setting: a case report

BACKGROUND

Chorea is a rare complication of uncontrolled type II diabetes. We report for the first time in Tanzania a case of type II diabetes presenting with a hyperglycaemia-induced hemichorea.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 58-year-old Tanzanian chagga by tribe with a body mass index of 28 kg/m(2) and newly diagnosed type II diabetes presented with polydipsia and involuntary movements of the right upper limb for 4 days. His plasma glucose was 549 mg/dl and glycated haemoglobin was 18.9 %. His movements were exaggerated by attempts to use his right hand. The rest of his neurological assessment was unremarkable. Other laboratory findings including calcium were within the normal range. A computed tomography scan of the brain was essentially normal except for age-related atrophy. There was no significant ketonuria on urine dipstick testing. We treated the patient's hyperglycaemia with intravenous insulin and the dystonia disappeared within 5 days.

CONCLUSION

Hemichorea is among the rare complications of hyperglycaemia-induced involuntary movements. Hyperglycaemia should be considered as a differential diagnosis for patients with type II diabetes mellitus presenting with hemichorea upon clinical assessment.

TAK-063, a PDE10A Inhibitor with Balanced Activation of Direct and Indirect Pathways, Provides Potent Antipsychotic-Like Effects in Multiple Paradigms

Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitors are expected to be novel drugs for schizophrenia through activation of both direct and indirect pathway medium spiny neurons. However, excess activation of the direct pathway by a dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF82958 canceled antipsychotic-like effects of a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol in methamphetamine (METH)-induced hyperactivity in rats. Thus, balanced activation of these pathways may be critical for PDE10A inhibitors. Current antipsychotics and the novel PDE10A inhibitor TAK-063, but not the selective PDE10A inhibitor MP-10, produced dose-dependent antipsychotic-like effects in METH-induced hyperactivity and prepulse inhibition in rodents. TAK-063 and MP-10 activated the indirect pathway to a similar extent; however, MP-10 caused greater activation of the direct pathway than did TAK-063. Interestingly, the off-rate of TAK-063 from PDE10A in rat brain sections was faster than that of MP-10, and a slower off-rate PDE10A inhibitor with TAK-063-like chemical structure showed an MP-10-like pharmacological profile. In general, faster off-rate enzyme inhibitors are more sensitive than slower off-rate inhibitors to binding inhibition by enzyme substrates. As expected, TAK-063 was more sensitive than MP-10 to binding inhibition by cyclic nucleotides. Moreover, an immunohistochemistry study suggested that cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels in the direct pathway were higher than those in the indirect pathway. These data can explain why TAK-063 showed partial activation of the direct pathway compared with MP-10. The findings presented here suggest that TAK-063's antipsychotic-like efficacy may be attributable to its unique pharmacological properties, resulting in balanced activation of the direct and indirect striatal pathways.

Acute Chorea with Bilateral Basal Ganglia Lesions in Diabetic Uremia

Uremia is a syndrome of clinical and metabolic abnormalities, which develops in parallel with the deterioration of renal function. Uremic encephalopathy is one of many manifestations of acute or chronic renal failure. It is usually applied to patients with cortical involvement, such as confusion, seizure, tremor, myoclonus, or asterixis. Some cases of acute extrapyramidal movement disorders associated with bilateral basal ganglia lesions, especially parkinsonism have been reported in uremic patients. Here, we report a diabetic uremic patient who developed acute chorea associated with bilateral basal ganglia lesions.

Domperidone-induced dystonia: a rare and troublesome complication

Domperidone is a commonly prescribed antiemetic drug but its side effects are rarely seen. Extrapyramidal side effects are a very rare complication of the drug occurring in 1/10,000 population. They usually occur in infants and very young children due to a poorly developed blood-brain barrier. We report a case of acute dystonia in a 13-year-old boy induced by domperidone. The boy was treated for viral fever and was started on domperidone 30 mg/day, sustained release form (0.7 mg/kg/day), for persistent vomiting along with other supportive treatment. On the fourth day of treatment, although the fever and vomiting subsided, the child developed oromandibular dystonia despite giving the drug in the recommended dose. Fortunately, drug-induced dystonias are a reversible condition and the child improved in 7-8 days after discontinuation of the drug. There was no recurrence at 1 month follow-up. Usually, dystonic reactions do not threaten life but are troublesome and life altering, so judicious use of the drug is advised.

Chorea disclosing a polycythemia vera

Chorea is a rare complication of polycythemia. We report the case of a 70 year-old woman whose polycythemia vera (PV), with Janus Kinase-2 (JAK2) mutation, presented as chorea. Chorea resolved quickly after hydroxyurea therapy.

Neurologic manifestations of chronic methamphetamine abuse

The drug with perhaps the greatest impact on the practice of Psychiatry is Methamphetamine. By increasing the extracellular concentrations of dopamine while slowly damaging the dopaminergic neurotransmission, Meth is a powerfully addictive drug whose chronic use preferentially causes psychiatric complications. Chronic Meth users have deficits in memory and executive functioning as well as higher rates of anxiety, depression, and most notably psychosis. It is because of addiction and chronic psychosis from Meth abuse that the Meth user is most likely to come to the attention of the practicing Psychiatrist/Psychologist. Understanding the chronic neurologic manifestations of Meth abuse will better arm practitioners with the diagnostic and therapeutic tools needed to make the Meth epidemic one of historical interest only.

Intracerebral quantitative chromophore estimation from reflectance spectra captured during deep brain stimulation implantation

Quantification of blood fraction (f(blood)), blood oxygenation (S(O2)), melanin, lipofuscin and oxidised and reduced Cytochrome aa 3 and c was done from diffuse reflectance spectra captured in cortex, white matter, globus pallidus internus (GPi) and subthalamus during stereotactic implantations of 29 deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes with the aim of investigating whether the chromophores can give physiological information about the targets for DBS. Double-sided Mann-Whitney U-tests showed more lipofuscin in GPi compared to white matter and subthalamus (p < 0.05). Compared to the other structures, f(blood) was significantly higher in cortex (p < 0.05) and S(O2) lower in GPi (p < 0.05). Median values and range for f(blood) were 1.0 [0.2-6.0]% in the cortex, 0.3 [0.1-8.2]% in white matter, 0.2 [0.1-0.8]% in the GPi and 0.2 [0.1-11.7]% in the subthalamus. Corresponding values for S(O2) was 20 [0-81]% in the cortex, 29 [0-78]% in white matter, 0 [0-0]% in the GPi and 0 [0-92]% in the subthalamus. In conclusion, the measurements indicate very low oxygenation and blood volume for DBS patients, especially in the GPi. It would be of great interest to investigate whether this is due to the disease, the normal situation or an artefact of doing invasive measurements.

Rising serum thyroxine levels and chorea in graves' disease

A 15-year-old girl presented with chorea as a first sign of Graves' hyperthyroidism. Chorea abated with antithyroid drug treatment and reappeared when hyperthyroidism recurred but not when thyrotropin receptor antibodies increased after administration of (131)I. Therefore, chorea in this patient is associated with hyperthyroxinemia and not with autoantibodies.

Secondary paroxysmal dyskinesia associated with 2009 H1N1 infection

Neurological complications associated with 2009 H1N1 infection in children have been reported and recognized worldwide. The most commonly reported neurological complications are seizures and encephalopathy. Secondary movement disorders are also associated with the infection, but such cases are rarely reported. Here, we describe the case of a 14-year-old boy with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia secondary to 2009 H1N1 infection, who presented with dystonia and choreic movement triggered by sudden voluntary movement.

A 17-Year-Old Female with Systemic Lupus Presents with Complex Movement Disorder: Possible Relationship with Antiribosomal P Antibodies

Complex movement disorder is a relatively rare presentation of neurolupus. Antiphospholipid antibodies are associated with movement disorders likely via aberrant neuronal stimulation. Antiribosomal P antibodies have been previously associated with neuropsychiatric disorders but their correlation with movement disorder was not previously established. Our case report involves a 17-year-old Caucasian female patient positive for only antiribosomal P antibody and lupus anticoagulant who presented with a sudden onset of complex movement disorder. After complete cessation of physical signs with olanzapine, anticardiolipin and anti-β2 glycoprotein I antibodies became positive which indicates a likely discordance between movement disorder and antiphospholipid antibodies. This also indicates a potential causal role of antiribosomal P antibodies in inducing movement disorder.

What's the role of topiramate in the management of patients with hyperkinetic movement disorders?

Topiramate (TPM) is an O-alkyl sulfamate derivative of the naturally occurring monosaccharide D-fructose with an epileptic activity. However, it has been suggested that, in addition to its use in epilepsy, TPM could also be used in the treatment of neurological disorders, psychiatric conditions and hyperkinetic movement disorders. The clinical applications of TPM in hyperkinetic movement disorders is consistent with the multiple pharmacodynamic mechanisms e.g., the modulation of both γ-aminobutyric acidergic or glutamatergic neurotransmission and the modulation of voltage-gated ion channels or intracellular signalling pathways. The purpose of the present review is to describe the mechanisms of action of TPM and its clinical efficacy in patients with hyperkinetic movement disorders.

Generation of striatal projection neurons extends into the neonatal period in the rat brain

Substantial advances have been made in the last decade on our understanding of the basic physiology underlying neurogenesis in the postnatal mammalian brain. The bulk of the work in this area has been based on analysis of the adult brain. Relatively less is known about the capacity for neurogenesis in specific structures within the neonatal brain. Here we report that the production of medium spiny striatal projection neurons extends into the early neonatal period under normal physiological conditions in the rat brain. Birth-dating of newborn cells with bromodeoxyuridine at postnatal days 0, 2 and 5 showed a peak production close to birth, which sharply declined at the later time-points. Additionally, there was a low-level but stable contribution of neurons with interneuron identity over the same time-period. Importantly, retroviral labelling of new striatal projection neurons with green fluorescent protein showed long-term survival and terminal differentiation with characteristic morphology, including highly elaborated spiny dendrites, and appropriate axonal targeting of the globus pallidus and midbrain. This latent period of striatal neurogenesis in the early neonatal brain represents an interesting target for regenerative approaches aimed at restoring striatal circuitry in perinatal pathologies, such as hypoxic and ischaemic damage associated with cerebral palsy.

A prospective series of patients with hyperglycaemia-associated movement disorders

Hyperglycaemia-associated movement disorders (MD) usually appear in older patients with diabetes and are related to acute peaks in blood glucose levels. This study aimed to describe the clinical features of a prospective series of patients with movement disorders associated with hyperglycaemia. We present a series of seven women and three men diagnosed with hyperglycaemia-associated MD who were followed for at least 1 year. Clinical evolution, treatment and neuroimaging findings are presented. Mean (± standard deviation [SD]) of the age at onset was 67.7 ± 11.7 years and mean (± SD) fasting glucose was 359.7 ± 162.5mg/dL. Putaminal hyperintensity on T1-weighted MRI was present in almost all instances. Two patients had pontine lesions compatible with osmotic myelinolysis. At follow-up, eight patients had a complete remission. We conclude that the clinical profile of patients in our series is similar to those reported in the literature. No clinical or metabolic features were found to be correlated with remission. Similarities with osmotic myelinolysis syndromes are discussed as an alternative aetiological hypothesis.

Neurologic manifestations of chronic methamphetamine abuse

Methamphetamine abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. The repetitive use of methamphetamine causes massive and sustained elevations in central monoamines. These elevations, particularly in dopamine, can cause changes in the function of the central nervous system that can manifest as a variety of neurologic disorders. This article focuses on these disorders, such as neurocognitive disorders and mental illness, including drug-induced psychosis; motor disorders, including the possible risk of Parkinson's disease, the development of choreoathetoid movements, and punding; and changes in the physical appearance of the methamphetamine users, including dental caries.

Reversible abnormal functional neuroimaging presentations in polycythemia vera with chorea

We report a case of polycythemia vera with chorea in which the brain metabolism and dopamine system were investigated using 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) and (99m)Tc-labeled tropane dopamine transporter ((99m)Tc-TRODAT-1) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Along with normalization of the hematocrit and clinical symptoms after consecutive phlebotomies, the FDG PET scan and (99m)Tc-TRODAT-1 SPECT images returned towards normal. It is hypothesized that the development of polycythemia chorea is associated with a reversible alteration in the corticobasal ganglia metabolism and disturbed dopaminergic function.

Use of trihexyphenidyl in children with cerebral palsy

A paucity of information exists regarding medications to treat dystonia in children with cerebral palsy. This study sought to review the benefits and tolerability of trihexyphenidyl in children with cerebral palsy, treated for dystonia or sialorrhea or both in a pediatric tertiary care hospital, through a retrospective chart review. In total, 101 patients (61 boys and 40 girls) were evaluated. The mean age at drug initiation was 7 years and 10 months (range, 1-18 years). The mean initial dose was 0.095 mg/kg/day. The dose was increased by 10-20% no sooner than every 2 weeks. The mean maximum dose reached was 0.55 mg/kg/day. Ninety-three patients (91%) tolerated the medication well, with a mean duration of treatment of 3 years and 7 months. Side effects occurred in 69% of subjects, the majority in patients aged ≥7 years, and soon after treatment initiation. Sixty-four percent continued the treatment at study end. Ninety-seven patients reported benefits, including reduction of dystonia in upper (59.4%) and lower (37.6%) extremities, sialorrhea (60.4%), and speech issues (24.7%). The majority of patients tolerated trihexyphenidyl well on a schedule of gradual dose increases, and almost all demonstrated improvements in dystonia or sialorrhea or both.

Polycythemia and chorea

Polycythemia vera is a sporadic myeloproliferative disorder of increased red blood cell mass affecting multiple organ systems. Associated thrombosis, hemorrhaging, and hyperviscosity commonly result in neurological manifestations, sometimes in the form of chorea and ballism. Resultant choreiform movements have been mainly described as generalized with orofaciolingual and appendicular muscle involvement, hypotonia, and hyporeflexia. Chorea has also been uncommonly reported as arising from secondary causes of polycythemia; however, the underlying pathophysiology has not been clearly elucidated. Proposed mechanisms for basal ganglia dysfunction include hypoperfusion due to venous stasis, receptor hypersensitivity in a setting of reduced catecholamine levels, and altered platelet dopamine metabolism. Magnetic resonance imaging and single-photon emission computed tomography perfusion studies have failed to reveal an anatomical or physiological basis for polycythemia vera-associated chorea, yet rare pathological examinations of deceased patients have shown signs of cerebral venous thrombosis and perivenous demyelination. Administration of neuroleptics may suppress abnormal choreiform movement; however, effective management of polycythemia vera requires serial venesections in conjunction with chemotherapy. Appropriate treatment may prolong survival to more than 10 years, although chorea may spontaneously remit, re-emerge with resurgence of disease, or continue indefinitely despite maintenance therapy.