Choreo-athetosis and encephalopathy induced by phenytoin.
Two patients with intractable epilepsy who had been treated with various combinations of anticonvulsant drugs developed phenytoin encephalopathy. In both patients choreo-athetoid involuntary movements were prominent. Blood phenytoin concentrations were above 30 mug/ml. When phenytoin was given in smaller doses and its level in the blood fell the involuntary movements and other clinical manifestations disappeared.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001264:Athetosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002819:Chorea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004172:Diplopia / Q000139:chemically induced; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011324:Primidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013843:Thiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013843:Thiazines; D011324:Primidone; D002220:Carbamazepine; D010672:Phenytoin; D010634:Phenobarbital