title: Persistent hemichorea associated with thyrotoxicosis.
abstract: We describe a case with unilateral chorea associated with thyrotoxicosis. A 23-year-old female with no family history of neurological diseases acutely developed choreic movements of the left extremities during gross thyrotoxicosis. CT scan and MRI study demonstrated no abnormality. Single-photon emission CT with technetium Tc 99m-labeled hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime revealed normal cerebral perfusion. Although the choreic movements were partially improved by dopamine antagonist, they persisted for two months until successful treatment of the thyrotoxicosis finally abolished these movements. Increased sensitivity of dopamine receptors may be responsible for persistent choreic movements in thyrotoxicosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hishida
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takebe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001264:Athetosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002819:Chorea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D008713:Methimazole; D002746:Chlorpromazine