Symptomatic paroxysmal hemidystonia due to a demyelinating subthalamic lesion

[The use of botulinum toxin type A in symptomatic therapy and medical rehabilitation of patients with multiple sclerosis]

The review of the current state of the problem of symptomatic therapy and medical rehabilitation (MR) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is presented. The search was conducted in the databases Medline, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus. Information is given about the most common symptoms of MS, among which sensory and motor disorders, bladder dysfunction, and pain have the greatest impact on the quality of life of patients, their functioning and independence in everyday life. The clinical characteristics of spasticity syndrome in MS and its relationship with quality of life indicators are considered. The features of the use of botulinum therapy (BT) in MS are considered. A high level of effectiveness of the use of BT in the treatment of neurogenic hyperactivity of detrusor and neurogenic bladder (the level of persuasiveness of recommendation A) and spasticity (the level of persuasiveness of recommendation B) is shown. Symptomatic treatment of MS and MR with the use of multidisciplinary programs helps to reduce disability, improve the quality of life of patients. When choosing symptomatic treatment and MR methods, it is customary to focus on the needs of patients.

Movement Disorders in Multiple Sclerosis: An Update

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a subset of chronic primary inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system, is closely associated with various movement disorders. These disorders may be due to MS pathophysiology or be coincidental. This review describes the full spectrum of movement disorders in MS with their possible mechanistic pathways and therapeutic modalities.

Methods:

The authors conducted a narrative literature review by searching for ‘multiple sclerosis’ and the specific movement disorder on PubMed until October 2021. Relevant articles were screened, selected, and included in the review according to groups of movement disorders.

Results:

The most prevalent movement disorders described in MS include restless leg syndrome, tremor, ataxia, parkinsonism, paroxysmal dyskinesias, chorea and ballism, facial myokymia, including hemifacial spasm and spastic paretic hemifacial contracture, tics, and tourettism. The anatomical basis of some of these disorders is poorly understood; however, the link between them and MS is supported by clinical and neuroimaging evidence. Treatment options are disorder-specific and often multidisciplinary, including pharmacological, surgical, and physical therapies.

Discussion:

Movements disorders in MS involve multiple pathophysiological processes and anatomical pathways. Since these disorders can be the presenting symptoms, they may aid in early diagnosis and managing the patient, including monitoring disease progression. Treatment of these disorders is a challenge. Further work needs to be done to understand the prevalence and the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for movement disorders in MS.

Clinical Features and Treatment in the Spectrum of Paroxysmal Dyskinesias: An Observational Study in South-West Castilla y Leon, Spain

BACKGROUND

Paroxysmal dyskinesias (PxD) are a group of heterogeneous disorders characterized by intermittent episodes of involuntary movements. PxD include paroxysmal kinesigenic (PKD), nonkinesigenic (PNK), and exercise-induced (PED) varieties.

OBJECTIVES

To define the phenotype of primary and secondary PxD forms.

METHODS

Twenty-two patients with PxD (9 men/13 women) were evaluated in two hospitals in south-west Castilla y Leon, Spain. Clinical features of the episodes, causes, family history, and response to treatment were collected.

RESULTS

Thirteen participants with primary PxD (6 men/7 women) and 9 with secondary PxD (3 men/6 women) were recruited. Nine patients belong to three nonrelated families (2 had PKD and 1 had PED). Mean age at onset in primary PKD cases was 10 years (range 5-23 years), earlier than in PNKD (24 years) and PED (20 years). Most primary PKD cases experienced daily episodes of duration <1 minute, which are more frequent and shorter attacks than in PNKD (1-2 per month, 5 minutes) and PED (1 per day, 15 minutes). The location of the involuntary movements varied widely; isolated dystonia was more common than mixed chorea and dystonia. All PKD patients who received antiepileptic treatment significantly improved. Levodopa and ketogenic diet proved to be effective in two patients with PED. Secondary forms presented a later mean age of onset (51 years). Six cases had PNKD, 1 had PKD, 1 both PNKD and PKD, and 1 had PED. Causes comprised vascular lesions, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, peripheral trauma, endocrinopathies, and drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

CONCLUSION

The knowledge of the clinical features and spectrum of causes related to PxD is crucial to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment, or even a nonorganic disorder diagnosis.

Movement disorders in early MS and related diseases: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the true prevalence and clinical characteristics of movement disorders in early multiple sclerosis (MS) and related demyelinating diseases. We conducted a prospective study to fill this knowledge gap.

METHODS

A consecutive patient sample was recruited from the MS clinic within a 1-year-period. Patients diagnosed over 5 years before the study start date were excluded. Each eligible patient was interviewed by a movement disorder neurologist who conducted a standardized movement disorder survey and a focused examination. Each patient was followed prospectively for 1-4 follow-up visits. Movement disorders identified on examination were video-recorded and videos were independently rated by a separate blinded movement expert.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were included (56.6% female, mean age 38.3 ± 12.7 years). Eighty percent reported one or more movement disorders on the survey and 38.3% had positive findings on examination. After excluding incidental movement disorders (e.g., essential tremor), 58.3% were thought to have demyelination-related movement disorders. The most common movement disorders in a descending order were restless legs syndrome, tremor, tonic spasms, myoclonus, focal dystonia, spontaneous clonus, fasciculations, pseudoathetosis, hyperekplexia, and hemifacial spasm. The movement disorder started 5 months following a relapse on average but in 8 patients it was the presenting symptom of a new relapse or the disease itself. The majority of movement disorders occurred secondary to spinal (85.7%) or cerebellar/brainstem lesions (34.2%). Spinal cord demyelination was the only statistically significant predictor of demyelination-related movement disorders.

CONCLUSION

Movement disorders are more common than previously thought even in early MS. They typically begin a few months after spinal or brainstem/cerebellar relapses but may occasionally be the presenting symptom of a relapse.

Movement disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis

Apart from tremor and restless-legs syndrome, abnormal involuntary movements are uncommon in patients with multiple sclerosis. A review of the literature in multiple sclerosis reveals case reports of a variety of other movement disorders such as myoclonus, spasmodic torticollis, paroxysmal dystonia, chorea, ballism, and parkinsonism. This chapter presents a thorough review of these movement disorders in multiple sclerosis patients and provides readers with potential underlying pathogenetic mechanisms.

Investigation of paroxysmal dystonia in a patient with multiple sclerosis: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study

OBJECTIVE

To study the pathogenesis of paroxysmal dystonia affecting the right body side in a patient with a demyelinating lesion in the descending motor pathways, also involving the basal ganglia.

METHODS

Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to study motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and the following silent periods (SPs) in the first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) of both sides and in the right extensor carpi radialis muscle (ECR) during voluntary contractions performed outside the dystonic attacks. During the dystonic paroxysms, single-pulse TMS was used to investigate the time course of MEPs and SPs in both FDI and ECR of the right side. Furthermore, paired-pulse TMS was applied at rest to investigate short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) in both FDI muscles.

RESULTS

At rest SICI and ICF were normal in both motor cortices. During voluntary contraction the MEP was smaller and the SP was longer in the affected FDI than in the contralateral. During the paroxysms, the MEPs and SPs were suppressed in comparison with the responses elicited during voluntary contraction.

CONCLUSIONS

These results fit well with the theory of ephaptic excitement of corticospinal axons for the pathogenesis of paroxysmal dystonia due to a demyelinating lesion.

SIGNIFICANCE

Identification of the mechanisms underlying paroxysmal dystonia in demyelinating disorders extends our knowledge on the pathophysiology of dystonia.

Paroxysmal dystonia and pathological laughter as a first manifestation of multiple sclerosis

Paroxysmal dystonia is an uncommon but well-established feature of multiple sclerosis (MS). Attacks can occur in established MS and may even occasionally be the initial symptom of this disorder. Pathological laughter is usually seen as a pseudobulbar palsy in some diffuse neurological diseases, but cases have been described, mostly in ischaemic attacks or tumours, where it is presented as bursts of laughter of variable duration. The pathogenesis of neither of the two phenomena has been fully established but both have been reported as being positive phenomena resulting from ectopic activation with ephaptic spread. We describe the first reported case of a paroxysmal hemidystonia together with bursts of pathological laughter as the first manifestation of MS. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 262—265. http://msj.sagepub.com

Subthalamic lesion and paroxysmal tonic spasms

Paroxysmal dyskinesia due to a subthalamic lesion is a rare finding. We describe a patient with paroxysmal tonic spasms due to a well-defined lesion in the subthalamic area. In this case, we confirm the nonepileptic nature of the episode and collect with detail the clinical features by means of a video-electroencephalographic recording. We also report an excellent response to carbamazepine in subthalamic paroxysmal dyskinesias.

Transient dystonia following magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with deep brain stimulation electrodes for the treatment of Parkinson disease. Case report

Data from previous studies have shown that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the head can be performed safely in patients with deep brain stimulators. The authors report on a 73-year-old patient with bilaterally implanted deep brain electrodes for the treatment of Parkinson disease, who exhibited dystonic and partially ballistic movements of the left leg immediately after an MR imaging session. Such dystonic or ballistic movements had not been previously observed in this patient. In the following months, this focal movement disorder resolved completely. This case demonstrates the possible risks of MR imaging in patients with deep brain stimulators.