Late-onset choreoathetotic syndrome following heart surgery.
Choreoathetotic syndromes are frequently observed in children after congenital cardiopathy surgery. To report the case of an adult patient who developed a choreoathetotic syndrome after cardiac operation, probably related to a transitory hypometabolism of basal ganglia. A 52-year-old patient underwent heart surgery under circulatory arrest and deep hypothermia, for type III dissecting thoracic aorta aneurysm. Two weeks later she developed an acute choreic syndrome. The positron emission tomography using fluorodeoxyglucose (FDGC-PET) showed a bilateral hypometabolism of basal ganglia. After haloperidol administration, choreic syndrome improved and 6 months later FDGC-PET was normal. Choreoathetosis has been described as a rare complication after heart surgery. The authors suggest that this movement disorder may be related to hypothermia that can induce a reversible basal ganglia metabolic damage.
Division of Neurology, Azienda Ospedaliera e Universitaria di Verona, Verona, Italy. mgpassarin@libero.it
Maria Grazia
MG
Passarin
Silvia
S
Romito
Mirko
M
Avesani
Franco
F
Alessandrini
Giuseppe
G
Petrilli
Francesco
F
Santini
Laura
L
Bertolasi
Annamaria
A
Musso
Carmela Ebba
CE
Buffone
Sarah
S
Ottaviani
Paolo
P
Bovi
Giuseppe
G
Moretto
D017668:Age of Onset; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002819:Chorea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006220:Haloperidol