Abstract
A 78 year old lady, with a past medical history of hypertension, presented to the Accident & Emergency department after a sudden onset of right sided involuntary movements while she was having afternoon tea with her friends. Examination showed isolated unilateral chorea, affecting the right arm and leg (video). Her blood glucose and sodium levels were normal. The MRI head scan showed a left globus pallidus infarct (figure 1). Tetrabenazine was prescribed with very good response, and weaned off after 4 weeks. Hyperkinetic movement disorders are uncommon in acute stroke (1%)1. Lesions in regions functionally connected to the posterolateral putamen are implicated in hyperkinetic movement disorders2. The differential diagnosis includes hyperglycaemia, hyponatraemia and drug-induced chorea. In cases of sudden onset, it is important to recognise stroke as a possible cause to avoid missing reperfusion therapy opportunities
- Received September 26, 2020.
- Accepted November 2, 2020.
- © 2021 American Academy of Neurology
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