Chorea-ballism associated with nonketotic hyperglycaemia or diabetic ketoacidosis: characteristics of 25 patients in Korea

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.

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: an updated overview of current knowledge and future perspectives

PURPOSE

Diabetic striatopathy (DS) is a rare complication of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (DM), characterized by hyperglycemia associated with chorea/ballism and characteristic reversible basal ganglia abnormalities on computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We propose a narrative review of the literature on this topic, currently unknown to most, and about which physicians should be aware. We intend to summarize, critically review, and take to mean the evidence on this disorder, describing its typical features.

METHODS

We searched Pubmed for English-language sources using the following keywords in the title and the abstract: diabetic striatopathy, hyperglycemic non-ketotic hemichorea/hemiballism, chorea/hemichorea associated with non-ketotic hyperglycemia, diabetic hemiballism/hemichorea, chorea, hyperglycemia, and basal ganglia syndrome. We collected scientific articles, including case reports, reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses from the years 1975 to 2023. We eliminated duplicate, non-English language or non-related articles.

RESULTS

Older Asian women are more frequently affected. Suddenly or insidiously hemichorea/hemiballism, mainly in the limbs, and high blood glucose with elevated HbA1c in the absence of ketone bodies have been observed. Furthermore, CT striatal hyperdensity and T1-weighted MRI hyperintensity have been observed. DS is often a treatable disease following proper hydration and insulin administration. Histopathological findings are variable, and no comprehensive hypothesis explains the atypical cases reported.

CONCLUSION

DS is a rare neurological manifestation of DM. If adequately treated, although treatment guidelines are lacking, the prognosis is good and life-threatening complications may occur occasionally. During chorea/hemiballism, we recommend blood glucose and HbA1c evaluation. Further studies are needed to understand the pathogenesis.

Hemichorea Associated With Nonketotic Hyperglycemia

CONTEXT

Hemichorea associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia (HC-NH) is a rare diabetic complication for which the pathogenesis remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study reported 16 cases of HC-NH to improve the understanding of the disease and avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

METHODS

Data of 16 patients with HC-NH in a single center from 2000 to 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, and the relevant literature was reviewed.

RESULTS

The participants (8 men and 8 women) had a mean age of 67.6 ± 16.4 years. Bilateral limbs were involved in 2 cases, and the others had hemichorea (6 in the left side and 8 in the right side). The average random blood glucose level was 17.51 ± 7.67 mmol/L, and the glycated hemoglobin A1c level was 11.9%±3.1% at admission. Eleven patients had a history of diabetes, and the other 5 patients were diagnosed with new-onset diabetes mellitus, but no remarkable differences were observed in the presentation or treatment of chorea. Ketonuria was detected in 7 patients. The basal ganglia (putamen, globus pallidus, and caudate nucleus) of 9 cases had typical hyperdensity on computed tomography and/or hyperintensity signals from magnetic resonance imaging. The chorea symptoms of 15 patients improved within 5.0 ± 1.9 days after treatment.

CONCLUSION

This study provides additional valuable information about the clinical and neuroimaging features of HC-NH. We hypothesize that chronic ischemia of the basal ganglia due to cerebral atherosclerosis combined with hyperglycemia is associated with HC-NH.

Acute onset movement disorders in diabetes mellitus: A clinical series of 59 patients

Background and purpose

No previous study has assessed the frequency and clinical–radiological characteristics of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and acute onset nonchoreic and nonballistic movements. We conducted a prospective study to investigate the spectrum of acute onset movement disorders in DM.

Methods

We recruited all the patients with acute onset movement disorders and hyperglycemia who attended the wards of three hospitals in West Bengal, India from August 2014 to July 2021.

Results

Among the 59 patients (mean age = 55.4 ± 14.3 years, 52.5% men) who were included, 41 (69.5%) had choreic or ballistic movements, and 18 (30.5%) had nonchoreic and nonballistic movements. Ballism was the most common movement disorder (n = 18, 30.5%), followed by pure chorea (n = 15, 25.4%), choreoathetosis (n = 8, 13.6%), tremor (n = 5, 8.5%), hemifacial spasm (n = 3, 5.1%), parkinsonism (n = 3, 5.1%), myoclonus (n = 3, 5.1%), dystonia (n = 2, 3.4%), and restless leg syndrome (n = 2, 3.4%). The mean duration of DM was 9.8 ± 11.4 years (89.8% of the patients had type 2 DM). Nonketotic hyperglycemia was frequently (76.3%) detected. The majority (55.9%) had no magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes; the remaining showed striatal hyperintensity. Eight patients with MRI changes exhibited discordance with sidedness of movements. Most of the patients (76.3%) recovered completely.

Conclusions

This is the largest clinical series depicting the clinical–radiological spectrum of acute onset movement disorders in DM. Of note was that almost one third of patients had nonchoreic and nonballistic movements. Our findings highlight the importance of a capillary blood glucose measurement in patients with acute or subacute onset movement disorders, irrespective of their past glycemic status.

Hyperglycemic hemichorea due to diabetic striatopathy: case-based review

Diabetic Striatopathy (DS) is a rare complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) with poor glycemic control and typical neuroimaging findings. DS predominantly leads to a unilateral reversible injury of the basal ganglia resulting in various movement disorders such as hemichorea and hemibalismus. We present a rare case of DS with left-sided hemichorea as a first presentation for a newly diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus (DM) type II and to make a thorough review of this disorder and to provide a practical approach to its management. A 63-year-old female was admitted to the neurology ward with symptoms of involuntary hyperkinetic movements for the left limbs and the left half of the face. The blood samples revealed random serum glucose of 30.8 mmol/l and an HbA1c of 15.13%. The computed tomography of the brain showed asymmetric, unilateral hyperdensity in the right basal ganglia (BG) - the putamen and nucleus caudatus. The patient was managed with Insulin and Haloperidol as the symptoms entirely resolved on the tenth day. In conclusion (DS) is a condition with a good prognosis and reversible clinical and neuroimaging findings after a prompt diagnosis and management. DS should be considered a possible differential diagnosis in patients with abrupt onset of hyperkinetic movement disorders.

Hemichorea-Hemiballism as a Manifestation of Hyperglycemia

Hemichorea-hemiballism associated with hyperglycemia is a syndrome characterized by a sudden occurrence of hemichorea, or its more severe expression hemiballism, in patients with non-ketotic hyperglycemia. Hemichorea-hemiballism tends to occur more commonly among elderly people and women of Asian origin. The authors present two rare cases of patients who manifested choreiform and ballistic movements of the limbs and concomitant non-ketotic hyperglycemia. Radiological findings were congruent with hyperglycemia etiology. These cases show that it is important to be aware of hemichorea-hemiballism associated with hyperglycemia, as there is a possible treatment and, if detected early on, a direct impact on prognosis.

A Rare Case of Hyperglycemic-Hemichorea in a Young Patient

Chorea is an abnormal, nonrhythmic, and purposeless movement of limbs. There is a long list of diseases responsible for chorea; long-standing hyperglycemia can sometimes result in it, which typically manifests on one side of the body. MRI brain is an added diagnostic tool, which commonly shows hyperintense basal ganglia lesion on T1-weighted images. Chorea in the context of hyperglycemia is a reversible and infrequent occurrence, best managed with insulin and haloperidol combination therapy. Here, we discuss a patient with hyperglycemic-hemichorea, whose symptoms resolved completely within two months of taking insulin and haloperidol.

Hyperglycaemic chorea-ballism or unmasking of Huntington's chorea in a patient with diabetes

Chorea-ballism is a neurological syndrome characterised by violent involuntary movements of one or both extremities. In the last decades, several patients with these involuntary movements were reported in association with hyperglycaemia. Here, we present a unique case of possible Huntington's disease, which could have been unmasked by the hyperglycaemic insult to the basal ganglia in a 64-year-old man who presented with chorea-ballism.

"Diabetic striatopathy": clinical presentations, controversy, pathogenesis, treatments, and outcomes

Diabetic striatopathy (DS) is a rare medical condition with ambiguous nomenclature. We searched PubMed database from 1992 to 2018 for articles describing hyperglycemia associated with chorea/ballism and/or neuroimages of striatal abnormalities. Descriptive analysis was performed on demographic/clinical characteristics, locations of striatal abnormalities on neuroimages, pathology findings, treatment strategies, and outcomes. In total, 176 patients (male:female = 1:1.7) were identified from 72 articles with mean age 67.6 ± 15.9 (range, 8-92). Among them, 96.6% had type 2 DM with 17% being newly diagnosed. Average blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin concentrations were 414 mg/dL and 13.1%, respectively. Most patients (88.1%) presented with hemichorea/hemiballism. Isolated putamen and combined putamen-caudate nucleus involvements were most common on neuroimaging studies with discrepancies between CT and MRI findings in about one-sixth of patients. Unilateral arm-leg combination was the most frequent with bilateral chorea in 9.7% of patients. Chorea and imaging anomalies did not appear concomitantly in one-tenth of patients. Successful treatment rates of chorea with glucose-control-only and additional anti-chorea medications were 25.7% and 76.2%, respectively, with an overall recurrence rate being 18.2%. The most commonly used anti-chorea drug was haloperidol. To date, four out of six pathological studies revealed evidence of hemorrhage as a probable pathogenesis.

Hyperglycemic chorea/ballism ascertained over 15 years at a referral medical center

OBJECTIVE

To describe chorea/ballism triggered by a hyperglycemic event.

METHODS

We used the electronic records system at Mayo Clinic-Rochester to identify patients diagnosed with chorea or ballism from January 1st, 2000 through December 31st, 2014. Each record was reviewed to confirm chorea/ballism. From these cases we selected those that developed chorea/ballism within a month after a hyperglycemic episode (blood glucose >300 mg/dL). Clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 596 chorea cases, we identified 7 patients (5 women) whose chorea was preceded by a hyperglycemic episode (range 3-30 days) during 15 years of surveillance, including new-onset diabetes in four cases. Median age was 80 years (range, 53-86). The chorea/ballism was unilateral in 6/7 cases and half of these unilateral cases had contralateral putamen T1-hyperintensity on brain MRI. After glucose correction, the chorea resolved within one week without recurrence in only one case. Among the 6 cases with persistent chorea, it was controlled with dopamine blocking/depleting medications.

CONCLUSIONS

Chorea triggered by hyperglycemia is a rare complication of diabetes, with only seven cases identified at our tertiary medical center during 15 years of surveillance. This comprised about 1% of all chorea cases at our center during this time. Hyperglycemic chorea primarily developed in later life, with new-onset diabetes in the majority (4/7). Although MRI putamen T1-hyperintensity is reportedly typical, it was only seen in 3/6 cases. This MRI appearance may be mistaken for a hemorrhagic stroke, given the usual unilateral presentation. The chorea was controlled with dopamine blocking/depleting medications.

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.

"Diabetic striatopathy" and ketoacidosis: Report of two cases and review of literature

"Diabetic striatopathy" is characterized by dyskinesias with basal ganglia hyperintensities on neuroimaging. It is usually reported in elderly females with hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state and rare in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. Here, we report two young males with diabetic ketoacidosis presenting as striatopathy, along with review of literature.

Hemichorea Hemiballismus in a Patient with Hyperglycaemic Hyperosmolar State, A Reversible Neurological Outcome of Metabolic Disorder

Hemichorea-hemiballismus (HCHB) is a spectrum of involuntary, non-rhythmic movement affecting one side of the body. Although rare, it has been reported as a presenting feature in hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) known in literature as C-H-BG (chorea, hyperglycaemia, basal ganglia) syndrome. We present a case in which the patient presented with 2-day history of right-sided hemichorea preceded by non-compliance to oral hypoglycaemic agent. Investigations revealed marked hyperosmolarity and hyperglycaemia, consistent with HHS. Computed tomography (CT) brain showed non-enhancing hyperdensities at the contralateral putaminal region. The choreiform improved after initiation of treatment for HHS. The hemichorea-hemiballistic movement can be the presenting feature of HHS, diabetic ketoacidosis or uncontrolled diabetes and is completely reversible with timely management. Nevertheless, CT brain plays diagnostic role and important to rule other more sinister aetiologies. The diagnosis of C-H-BG syndrome should be considered in patients with abnormal movement and hyperglycaemia. The symptom can completely recover if the hyperglycaemia is treated accordingly.

Chorea due to diabetic hyperglycemia and uremia: distinct clinical and imaging features

This study was undertaken to describe the clinical and imaging characteristics of patients with chorea associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia (C-NKH) in comparison with patients with chorea associated with uremia (C-URE). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of consecutive 10 C-NKH and five C-URE patients who were treated between January 1, 2001 and January 31, 2013. Women were more frequently affected by C-NKH (70% vs. 30%) and C-URE (80% vs. 20%) compared with men. The C-NKH patients demonstrated T1-hyperintense and inhomogeneous lesions in the basal ganglia, whereas C-URE patients demonstrated T2-hyperintense and homogeneous lesions in the basal ganglia. The mean time for chorea resolution after treatment was significantly shorter in C-NKH patients than in C-URE patients (4.4 ± 2.6 d vs. 73.8 ± 14.2 d, respectively; P = 0.005). The clinical and imaging features are remarkably different between C-NKH and C-URE patients, suggesting distinct pathogenic mechanisms.

Chorea-ballism associated with ketotic hyperglycemia

Chorea-ballism is a rare movement disorder characterized by irregular, poorly patterned, and involuntary movements, which are usually unilateral but may be bilateral or involve the extremities. The most common metabolic cause of transient chorea-ballism is nonketotic or ketotic hyperglycemia (NKHG or KHG, respectively). A meta-analysis and several reviews have identified clinical characteristics of NKHG-associated chorea-ballism; however, the characteristics of KHG-associated chorea-ballism remain unknown. We performed a search for studies of patients with KHG-associated chorea-ballism, published in MEDLINE between 1960 and May 2014, and identified 13 studies of 15 patients. Despite the limited number of cases, we identified some significant differences in the clinical and radiological characteristics between patients with KHG- or NKHG-induced chorea-ballism. Patients with KHG were significantly younger than patients with NKHG, and a higher percentage of patients with KHG had atypical or negative brain imaging findings for chorea-ballism compared to patients with NKHG. We recommend that blood glucose levels be tested on admission as a key diagnostic measure, to improve the early diagnosis of chorea-ballism. The best treatment for KHG-induced chorea-ballism is rapid glucose control with an insulin drip and, possibly, neuroleptics. The mechanisms of the disease are unclear, although the GABA theory, cerebrovascular insufficiency, and alterations of dopaminergic activity in the striatum might play important roles.

Hemichorea in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis

BACKGROUND

Chorea is a common presenting feature of metabolic disorders, including nonketotic hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but rarely has been reported in diabetic ketoacidosis, hypothyroidism and vitamin B12 deficiency.

METHODS

Review the literature for reported cases of chorea as a presenting manifestation in metabolic disorders.

RESULTS

We report a case of hemichorea in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by diabetic ketoacidosis. The patient had a two day history of right sided hemichorea and decreased level of consciousness. Initial laboratory studies revealed hyperglycemia, ketosis and an anion gap metabolic acidosis consistent with diabetic ketoacidosis. Once treatment was started the choreiform movements significantly improved over three weeks.

CONCLUSION

Although DKA has been rarely reported as a trigger for chorea, it should be in the differential diagnosis of a patient presenting with an acute chorea. Given the reversible nature of this disease, early recognition and treatment are imperative.

Nonketotic hyperglycemic chorea

This is a unique case of nonketotic hyperglycemic (NKH) chorea in a 34-year-old white male. The patient had a poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) due to medication incompliance. He complained of polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss of 20 pounds within a month before presentation. T2-weighted (T2W) MRI showed hyperintensity in the left basal ganglion. Glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) was 13.6%. The patient was started on insulin and clonazepam and the chorea resolved after proper control of the glucose level. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of NKH chorea in a young white male with high T2-weighted (T2W) magnetic resonance signal in the basal ganglia.

Chorea

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chorea is a relatively common movement disorder that can be caused by a large variety of structural, autoimmune, neurodegenerative, pharmacologic, and metabolic disturbances of basal ganglia function. The diagnosis is rarely indicated by the phenotypic appearance of chorea and can be challenging, with many patients remaining undiagnosed. This review highlights salient features that may be observed or elicited in the case of a person with chorea, which may provide an indication of the diagnosis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent advances in genetics have identified genes for new disorders and expanded the phenotype of recognized conditions. New therapies include tetrabenazine, a presynaptic dopamine depleter, and deep brain stimulation.

SUMMARY

Clues to diagnosis may be found in the patient's family or medical history, on neurologic examination, or upon laboratory testing and neuroimaging. While most therapies at present are supportive, correct diagnosis is essential for appropriate genetic counseling and ultimately for future molecular therapies.

Dyskinesia associated with hyperglycemia and basal ganglia hyperintensity: report of a rare diabetic complication

The syndrome of dyskinesia associated with hyperglycemia and basal ganglia hyperintensity on T1 - weighted MR images is rare and most often affects elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. We report a case of a 79 year-old female patient who presented to the ED with a 12 h history of a left sided hemichoreoathetosis. Laboratory results revealed pronounced nonketotic hyperglycemia [27 mmol/L (486 mg/dL); HbA1c 140 mmol/mol (15 %)] and brain MRI showed bilateral T1 hyperintensity in the basal ganglia, more noticeable on the right side. One week before she had been admitted with a diagnosis of transient ischemic attack consisting in left hemiparesthesia, also with nonketotic hyperglycemia [38.9 mmol/L (700 mg/dL)] and was discharged home with partial correction of her metabolic disturbance. The movement disorder did not improve with adequate glycemic control so haloperidol was started. Six weeks later she was seen on an outpatient basis. She still had minimal residual involuntary movements of the left arm and leg. Laboratory exams revealed a well controlled diabetes mellitus [glycemia 6.0 mmol/L (109 mg/dL), HbA1c 57 mmol/mol (7.4 %)]. In conclusion, the syndrome of dyskinesia associated to hyperglycemia and hyperintensity in the basal ganglia on T1 - weighted MR images is a rare, intriguing and yet incompletely understood complication of diabetes mellitus. The increasing number of reported cases may help to better understand its peculiarities such as the existence of a clear clinical radiological dissociation and to unveil pathophysiological aspects. We suggest the possibility that the metabolic disturbances unmask a previous established asymptomatic striatum vasculopathy.

Encephalopathy, hypoglycemia, and flailing extremities: a case of bilateral chorea-ballism associated with diabetic ketoacidosis

Background

Hypo/hyperglycemia is a known cause of chorea and hemiballism. The temporallobes, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and substantia nigra are most susceptible to hypoglycemic changes.

Methods

We present a caseof bilateral chorea and bi-ballism accompanied by encephalopathyin the setting of severe hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis. The patient had brain MRI changes involving both caudate nuclei, temporal lobes, and hippocampi.

Discussion

This case demonstrates the basal ganglia's vulnerability to hypoglycemia and the need for cautious evaluation of involuntary movements when they occur in the setting of encephalopathy.

Hyperglycemic chorea-ballism or acute exacerbation of Huntington's chorea? Huntington's disease unmasked by diabetic ketoacidosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus

CONTENT

Hyperglycemic chorea-ballism is predominantly observed in older type 2 diabetic patients, and it is rare in type 1 diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Huntington's disease (HD) is one of several genetic syndromes associated with diabetes, although the reported prevalence of the association varies. There are few opportunities for most physicians to diagnose early-stage HD.

OBJECTIVE

We describe bilateral hyperglycemic chorea-ballism in a 40-yr-old female type 1 diabetes patient with DKA and HD.

SETTING

The study was conducted in a tertiary care referral hospital.

RESULTS

On admission, the patient exhibited severe involuntary movement of bilateral extremities with DKA, and hyperglycemic chorea-ballism was diagnosed. She recovered from chorea-ballism with admission of fluids and insulin, but mild choreatic movement persisted in the upper extremities. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and DNA analysis revealed HD. Although it has been considered that depletion of striatal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content is rare in DKA, it is largely decreased in HD. Therefore, it is probable that hyperglycemic chorea-ballism or exacerbation of Huntington's chorea resulted from transient depletion of GABA.

CONCLUSION

The present case provides important insights on the role of GABA in hyperglycemic chorea-ballism and on the clinical issues associated with HD diagnosis.