Alcohol-responsive writer's cramp.
Writer's cramp is a rare movement disorder of unknown etiology, in which a cramp is elicited primarily or exclusively with writing. We describe a patient with primary writer's cramp that was completely improved by drinking a small amount of alcohol. Although it is unclear how "alcohol" ameliorated the dystonia, this case suggests that alcohol might reverse the pathophysiologic changes in the entire basal ganglia circuit. In addition, we cannot rule out the possibility that the anxiolytic influence of alcohol may contribute to the beneficial effects on dystonia.
Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, South Korea.
Sung-Chul
SC
Lim
Joong-Seok
JS
Kim
Jae-Young
JY
An
Sa
S
Yoon Kang
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004576:Electromyography; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
D000431:Ethanol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid