[Clinical and therapeutical features in 135 patients with dystonia: experience of movement disorders unity of the Hospital de Clínicas of the Universidade Federal do Paraná]

Carbamazepine-induced dystonia in an adolescent

Dystonia is sustained muscle contraction, which may be primary or secondary to other causes. Drugs comprise one of the most important causes for the secondary dystonia, the usual mechanism being a dopaminergic blockade. There are very few reports describing dystonia resulting from carbamazepine (CBZ) administration. In this case report, a 16-year-old male with mental retardation and seizure disorder developed dystonia at therapeutic blood levels of CBZ.

Periodontal treatment in a patient with generalized idiopathic dystonia

Dystonia is a neurological disorder that can cause constant muscle contractions and motor limitations. This work reports a clinical case of periodontal treatment in a patient with generalized idiopathic dystonia. The intraoral clinical examination was focused on the presence of caries and periodontal diseases. The plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were measured. Initially, oral hygiene instruction was provided using a soft conventional toothbrush and dental floss, but the clinical results achieved using these methods were inadequate. Alternative methods of plaque removal were offered, such as the use of a power toothbrush and a dental floss fork, which resulted in improvement in the PI, PD, and BOP and allowed the patient to undergo periodontal surgery for the restoration of subgingival caries. Our results suggested that generalized idiopathic dystonia leads to motor limitations that may cause difficulty with regard to plaque control, but adaptations of the methods used for oral hygiene may improve the oral health conditions in these patients.

The physical, social and emotional aspects are the most affected in the quality of life of the patients with cervical dystonia

OBJECTIVE

Describe the functional, clinical and quality of life (QoL) profiles in patients with cervical dystonia (CD) with residual effect or without effect of botulinum toxin (BTX), as well as verify the existence of correlation between the level of motor impairment, pain and QoL.

METHOD

Seventy patients were assessed through the Craniocervical dystonia questionnaire-24 (CDQ-24) and the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS).

RESULTS

The greater the disability, pain and severity of dystonia, the worse the QoL (p<0.0001). Greater severity relates to greater disability (p<0.0001). Pain was present in 84% of the sample, being source of disability in 41%. The most frequent complaints were: difficulty in keeping up with professional and personal demands (74.3%), feeling uneasy in public (72.9%), hindered by pain (68.6%), depressed, annoyed or bitter (47.1%), lonely or isolated (32.9%).

CONCLUSION

The physical, social and emotional aspects are the most affected in the QoL of these patients.

Metoclopramide-induced oculogyric crisis presenting as encephalitis in a young girl

Drug-related dystonic reactions are not uncommon and often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, seizures, tetanus, tetany, etc. Eliciting thorough history is important to avoid unnecessary investigations and treatments as these are potentially reversible reactions. Metoclopramide-induced oculogyric crisis is described in this case report.

Movement disorders in Latin America

The authors review some particularities of movement disorders (MDs) in the ethnically diverse population of Latin America. Although idiopathic diseases are evenly prevalent, access to treatment encounters difficulties that are worth discussing. Infectious-parasitic diseases observed throughout the continent occasionally present as MDs, and will be individually reviewed. Inherited MDs with regional foci of increased prevalence, particularly spinocerebellar ataxias, will also be considered. Whereas there is no treatment for genetic disorders, most of the other conditions are preventable or amenable to adequate treatment. Hope for better health standards for the Latin American population lies in profound social and political changes that are still to come.

Distonia segmentar como manifestação de angioma cavernoso: relato de caso

A distonia é uma síndrome neurológica cuja etiologia costuma não ser bem definida. Relatamos caso de uma paciente que apresentou aos 16 anos de idade dificuldade para tocar piano, havendo um comprometimento progressivo da mão, antebraço e braço esquerdo que posteriormente evoluiu com crises de "ausência" e cefaléia. Realizou exames de imagem que evidenciaram angioma cavernoso na região temporal profunda direita (ínsula). É rara a associação entre essas duas enfermidades, não havendo na literatura relato de distonia segmentar associada a crises de pseudoausência e cefaléia com características migranosas secundária ao angioma cavernoso. Vinte e cinco por cento das distonias são secundárias, o que nos faz sugerir uma investigação mínima em neuroimagem.

[Use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia): preliminary study of twelve patients]

Laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia) is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary contractions of laryngeal muscles involved with vocalization. The introduction of botulinum toxin in the treatment of laryngeal dystonia had a major clinical impact due to the striking improvement of symptoms. We report the preliminary results of therapeutical use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of twelve patients with laryngeal dystonia. After an extensive clinical evaluation, the patients underwent a videostroboscopic exam for diagnostic confirmation. Botulinum toxin was injected in the cricothyreoid membrane, directed towards the thyreoaritenoid muscle, with the aid of eletromyography needles. Most of patients who underwent botulinum toxin injection had a significant improvement of their symptoms (83%), with effects lasting for four months in average and without important side effects.