title: Dystonia gravidarum: a new entity?
abstract: We describe cervical dystonia occurring in a 31-year-old, previously well, primigravid, primiparous Chinese woman at 4 weeks' amenorrhea, which was ameliorated with low-dose clonazepam and disappeared completely by the end of the second trimester without recurring despite her being tapered off benzodiazepine therapy. Investigations were unremarkable for structural and biochemical causes of dystonia. Chorea, paraballismus, and restless legs syndrome are known to occur during pregnancy, attributable to high estrogen levels. Dystonia, on the other hand, has not been described to occur de novo in pregnancy. This association should be considered in women of reproductive age who present with cervical dystonia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, National University Hospital, Singapore. mdcelch@nus.edu.sg
authors.forename: Erle Chuen-Hian
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Raymond Chee-Seong
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Seet
authors.forename: Einar P V
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Wilder-Smith
authors.forename: Benjamin Kian-Chung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D014103:Torticollis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D002998:Clonazepam