Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis because of cryptogenic myelitis. Remission with carbamazepine and the pathogenetic role of altered sodium channels.
Lesions of the spinal cord causing paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis are rare and most of the reported cases have been because of multiple sclerosis. We now describe this movement disorder occurring in a patient who developed a myelitis of unknown aetiology. A typically striking remission followed treatment with carbamazepine. It is suggested that the effect of the drug and the disorder itself may both be explained on the basis of altered sodium channels.
Bonev
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Department of Neurology, Medical University of Southern Africa and Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, South Africa.
Gledhill
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RF
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002819:Chorea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D009187:Myelitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013035:Spasm / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D015222:Sodium Channels; D002220:Carbamazepine; D003975:Diazepam