Diabetic striatopathy: an updated overview of current knowledge and future perspectives

Elucidation of the clinical traits of diabetic chorea through a questionnaire survey of people with diabetic chorea from 59 Japanese hospitals

AIMS

Diabetic chorea refers to sudden involuntary movements developing in people with diabetes mellitus and is known to occur mainly in those with severe hyperglycemia. We conducted a questionnaire survey of case-reporting facilities in Japan to elucidate their clinical characteristics.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed and Ichushi databases for case reports published from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2017, using "diabetes" and "chorea" as keywords, and sent a questionnaire to the reporting institutions.

RESULTS

Data from a total of 64 cases were included in this study. While most cases had severe hyperglycemia at the onset of diabetic chorea, hypoglycemia/improvement of the plasma glucose served as the trigger for the symptom in 14 cases (21.9%). The Early Remission Group (≤6 months) consisted of 39 cases (60.9%), while the Prolonged Partial Remission Group (>6 months) included 25 cases (39.1%). In the Prolonged Partial Remission Group (>6 months), there were more cases with widespread involuntary movement symptoms, a higher number of cases exhibiting typical imaging findings, and a greater incidence of chorea onset after the initiation of antidiabetic treatment, including hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Most reported cases of diabetic chorea in Japan were elderly persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus and severe hyperglycemia, although there were also some cases in which the symptom developed in the setting of hypoglycemia. It has been suggested that rapid plasma glucose correction and hypoglycemia might be associated with the risk of development and prognosis of diabetic chorea.

Clinical and neuroimaging characteristics of diabetic striatopathy: a case series report

Background

Diabetic striatopathy (DS) is a rare disorder characterized by clinical manifestations of hemichorea, non-ketotic hyperglycemia, and high signal on T1-weighted MRI or high density on CT scan in basal ganglia, typically associated with poor glycemic control.

Objective

This study aimed to analyze clinical characteristics of patients with diabetic striatopathy to raise awareness amongst physicians, especially endocrinologists, about this rare neurological manifestation in patients with diabetes.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data on clinical presentations, laboratory workups, and cranial CT and MRI of six patients with DS who were admitted to our hospital from October 2013 to June 2022.

Results

The mean age of onset among the six patients was 80.5 years, and the mean value of HbA1c was 13.65%. All six patients complained of involuntary movements, which primarily affected the arm and leg on one side of the body. Bilateral caudate nucleus hyperdensities were shown on the CT examination in Case 3,while the other 5 patients, unilateral caudate nucleus hyperdensity was shown. In addition, five patients (except Case 5) underwent MRI, all showing hypersignal lesions on the T1-weighted images. A low signal in the right basal ganglia was shown on MRI susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) sequences in Case 6. All six patients exhibited carotid artery or cerebral artery stenosis. Following strict blood glucose control and symptomatic management, the symptoms of chorea improved significantly in all patients, and repeat images indicated that the lesions gradually disappeared.

Conclusion

Both poor vascular conditions and severe hyperglycemia contribute to the development of diabetic striatopathy. The prognosis is usually good by active treatment.

Chorea in Hemodialysis Patients: Report of Two Cases

Background

Chorea is rare in maintenance dialysis patients but seriously affects the quality of life, and there are few previous reports of this condition. We report two patients undergoing regular hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease, both of whom presented with progressively intensified involuntary limb movements, but originating from different etiologies.

Case Presentation

We report two patients undergoing regular hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease who presented with progressively intensified involuntary limb movements. Treatment with sedatives alone proved ineffective in both cases. Through differential diagnosis, one patient was diagnosed with diabetic striatopathy and managed with intensive glycemic control, while the other was found to have uremic metabolic encephalopathy and treated with a combination of hemodialysis and hemoperfusion. Subsequently the patients' symptoms improved significantly.

Conclusion

Choreiform movements in hemodialysis patients arise from a variety of etiologies. These two cases suggested the susceptibility to the onset of chorea in the early stage of maintenance hemodialysis.

Diabetic striatopathy: Hyperglycemic chorea/ballism successfully treated with L-dopa

Diabetic striatopathy, a rare hyperglycemia complication, is characterized by chorea/ballism and striatal anomalies on neuroimaging, usually managed with glycemic control and haloperidol. However, practical strategies for haloperidol-resistant cases are scarce. We describe a 76-year-old Japanese woman with diabetic striatopathy who initially presented with polydipsia, polyuria, and lower-extremity weakness. Despite pronounced hyperglycemia (725 mg/dL), her blood glucose levels were reduced through saline infusion and intravenous insulin. Subsequently, she developed whole-body ballism concomitant with striatal hyperintensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, which initially responded to haloperidol. Upon discontinuation of haloperidol, her symptoms relapsed and did not improve with the reintroduction of haloperidol. Dopamine transporter single photon emission computed tomography revealed diminished bilateral striatal uptake, suggesting presynaptic dopaminergic dysfunction. This finding prompted the initiation of L-dopa, which significantly improved her symptoms. This case underlines the need to consider presynaptic dopaminergic dysfunction in diabetic striatopathy patients unresponsive to standard treatments, highlighting the effectiveness of L-dopa in such scenarios.

Diabetic Striatopathy: A Case Report of Two Distinct Presentations in Elderly Patients

Movement disorders associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) are rare. The diagnosis of diabetic striatopathy (DS) is based on the presence of a triad characterized by hyperglycemia, hemiballismus/chorea, and hypersignal of the basal ganglia on T1-weighted MRI. In most cases, treatment involves glycemic control. DS should be considered a differential diagnosis in episodes of extrapyramidal movements, especially when associated with hyperglycemia in the elderly. In this paper, we present two cases of DS.

Chorea - Is Diabetes Mellitus the Cause?

Diabetic striatopathy (DS) is an uncommon complication of diabetes characterized by hemiballismus-hemichorea, often accompanied by reversible striatal hyperintensity on neuroimaging. Diabetes is the most common metabolic cause of hemiballismus and hemichorea. However, it is underreported as clinicians do not always consider it in the diagnosis of new movement abnormalities. The prognosis is generally excellent, and management involves glycemic control and anti-chorea medications. We present a case of a patient with bilateral chorea and ballismus and classic MRI findings of DS, though his history of diabetes and substance use confounds the clinical picture of DS.

Unraveling Nonketotic Hyperglycemia Hemichorea-Hemiballismus Syndrome: A Case Report of Diagnosis and Management

Nonketotic hyperglycemia hemichorea-hemiballismus syndrome (NHH) is an uncommon neurological condition linked to poorly managed diabetes mellitus (DM). It presents with spontaneous, erratic movements that impact just one side of the body. Our case of NHH was of a 76-year-old female with uncontrolled type 2 DM, ischemic heart disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite previous treatment for similar symptoms, the patient developed left-sided choreo-ballistic movements. Despite difficulties obtaining clear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to involuntary movements, the image revealed T1 hyperintense signals in the right lentiform nucleus and subtle signals in the left lentiform nucleus and external capsule. Management included insulin, tetrabenazine, haloperidol, lorazepam, and other adjunctive therapies, resulting in symptom resolution by the fourth day. This case underscores the importance of considering NHH in patients with uncontrolled DM presenting with abnormal movements, highlighting the challenges in imaging due to involuntary movements and emphasizing the need for aggressive glycemic control and treatment strategies.

Recent advances in non-Huntington's disease choreas

INTRODUCTION

Chorea is primarily due to an imbalance of basal ganglia output pathways, often due to dysfunction or degeneration of the caudate nucleus and putamen, and can be due to many causes.

METHODS

We reviewed the recent literature to identify newly-recognized causes of chorea, including auto-immune, metabolic, and genetic. We also focused upon developments in mechanisms relating to underlying pathophysiology of certain genetic choreas and advances in therapeutics.

RESULTS

Novel autoantibodies continue to be identified as causes of chorea. Both COVID-19 infection and vaccination are reported to result rarely in chorea, although in some cases causality is not clearly established. Advances in genetic testing continue to find more causes of chorea, and to expand the phenotype of known genetic disorders. Deep brain stimulation can be successful in certain circumstances.

CONCLUSION

Our understanding of mechanisms underlying this movement disorder continues to advance, however much remains to be elucidated.

Diabetic striatopathy and other acute onset de novo movement disorders in hyperglycemia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Acute onset de novo movement disorder is an increasingly recognized, yet undereported complication of diabetes. Hyperglycemia can give rise to a range of different movement disorders, hemichorea-hemiballism being the commonest. This article delves into the current knowledge about this condition, its diverse presentations, ongoing debates regarding its underlying mechanisms, disparities between clinical and radiological findings, and challenges related to its management.

METHODS

PubMed and Google Scholar were searched with the following key terms- "diabetes", "striatopathy", "hyperglycemia", "striatum", "basal ganglia", "movement disorder", "involuntary movement". Case reports, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and narrative reviews published in English literature related to the topic of interest from January 1, 1950, to October 20, 2023, were retrieved. The references cited in the chosen articles were also examined, and those considered relevant were included in the review.

RESULTS

Diabetic striatopathy is the prototype of movement disorders associated with hyperglycemia with its characteristic neuroimaging feature (contralateral striatal hyperdensitity on computed tomography or hyperintensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging). Risk factors for diabetic striatopathy includes Asian ethnicity, female gender, prolonged poor glycemic control, and concurrent retinopathy. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the pathophysiology of movement disorders induced by hyperglycemia. These hypotheses are not mutually exclusive; instead, they represent interconnected pathways contributing to the development of this unique condition. While the most prominent clinical feature of diabetic striatopathy is a movement disorder, its phenotypic expression has been found to extend to other manifestations, including stroke, seizures, and cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Fortunately, the prognosis for diabetic striatopathy is generally excellent, with complete resolution achievable through the use of anti-hyperglycemic therapy alone or in combination with neuroleptic medications.

CONCLUSION

Hyperglycemia is the commonest cause of acute onset de novo movement disorders presenting to a range of medical specialists. So, it is of utmost importance that the physicians irrespective of their speciality remain aware of this clinical entity and check blood glucose at presentation before ordering any other investigations. Prompt clinical diagnosis of this condition and implementation of intensive glycemic control can yield significant benefits for patients.

Diabetic Striatopathy (Hyperglycemic Hemichorea-Hemiballismus Syndrome) in a Young Patient with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: A Case Report

Introduction

Diabetic striatopathy, or nonketotic hyperglycemic hemichorea-hemiballismus syndrome, is a rare movement disorder linked to poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. It predominantly affects older women with type 2 diabetes mellitus and presents with characteristic basal ganglia abnormalities on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Even rarer is the presentation in a young patient, which may pose diagnostic and management challenges.

Case Presentation

We report a 17-year-old male with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus presenting with left-sided hemichorea-hemiballismus of acute onset associated with hyperglycemia without ketoacidosis. Brain imaging revealed increased attenuation in the right caudate and putamen on CT and hyperintensity on T1-weighted MRI, consistent with diabetic striatopathy. The abnormal movements abated after 1 month through dietary counseling, increased insulin dosage, and anti-chorea therapy.

Conclusion

Diabetic striatopathy may occur in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. In resource-limited settings, its management can be challenging. There is a need for increased awareness among physicians of this potentially reversible condition, especially when seeing atypical patient populations. Strict glycemic control is an essential part of treatment.

Characterization of Diabetic Striatopathy With Repeated Follow-Up Using Multiple Imaging Studies

Diabetic striatopathy is a rare condition with a prevalence of less than one in 100,000. Herein, we report a case of diabetic striatopathy exacerbated by hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, with repeated follow-up with multiple imaging studies. This case suggested that putamen neuronal loss and dysfunction, gliosis, and ischemia are associated with diabetic striatopathy pathophysiology. In addition, striatal hyperintensity on T1-weighted MRI images was more pronounced after symptom remission when evaluated several times over a short period. Therefore, clinicians should be aware that even if MRI findings are normal in the very early stages of the onset of diabetic striatopathy, repeating MRIs at intervals may reveal typical findings.