Chorea in patients with AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To describe differing etiologies and possible anatomoclinical correlates of choreic movements in a series of AIDS patients.


METHODS
We analyzed the clinical records and neuroimaging data of 5 consecutive AIDS patients who developed choreic movements at our center from January, 1994 to December, 1996.


RESULTS
There were 2 cases of focal choreic dyskinesias, 1 of right hemichorea, and 2 of generalized chorea. Onset was acute and febrile in 1 case, and subacute in the other 4. In 1 patient the chorea was the AIDS onset symptom; in another choreic movements were the first neurological symptom following AIDS diagnosis; in 2 patients AIDS had a neurological onset other than chorea; and in the fifth patient buccofacial dyskinesias appeared following the development of bacterial encephalitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Chorea was associated with cerebral toxoplasmosis in 2 patients, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in 1, subacute HIV encephalopathy in another, and was probably iatrogenic in the last. Chorea is not unusual in AIDS, however the causes are variable and careful neuroradiological and clinical evaluation is required to identify them. AIDS-related disease should be considered in young patients presenting with chorea without a family history of movement disorders.
Piccolo
I
I
Department of Neurology, Niguarda Ca'Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Causarano
R
R
Sterzi
R
R
Sberna
M
M
Oreste
P L
PL
Moioli
C
C
Caggese
L
L
Girotti
F
F
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D001928:Brain Diseases, Metabolic / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D002819:Chorea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology