title: Respiratory disorders associated with dystonia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory difficulties are sometimes reported by patients with cranial-cervical and other forms of dystonia, but the nature or mechanisms of the breathing problems have not been well characterized.
  
  
  METHODS
  We review 13 dystonic patients with various respiratory complaints and describe their symptoms and response to treatment, including botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gasping, stridor, interrupted flow of speech, paradoxical breathing, dyspnea on exertion, and other respiratory symptoms reported by patients suggest involvement of the upper airways, chest, and diaphragm. BoNT injections may be, at least partially, beneficial in some patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This series of patients draws attention to respiratory distress as a potentially serious, even life-threatening, complication of dystonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehanna
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jankovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000187:drug effects; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A