title: Hemichorea associated with gabapentin therapy with hypoperfusion in contralateral basal ganglion - a case of a paraplegic patient with neuropathic pain.
abstract: Functional imaging in patients with movement disorders has suggested abnormalities of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). We describe a patient with thoracic cord lesion with subsequent severe neuropathic pain. Right hemichorea developed and was related to adjunctive therapy with gabapentin. The patient's hemichorea decreased gradually after cessation of gabapentin. The study of rCBF revealed hypoperfusion in the contralateral basal ganglia compared with the previous study of rCBF. Our patient is the first patient with neuropathic pain, treated with gabapentin who developed hemichorea, in the absence of brain lesions. Imaging studies of rCBF showed a perfusion defect in the contralateral basal ganglion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: M-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: T-Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C-C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: K-C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: S-T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002819:Chorea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010264:Paraplegia; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin