title: Vascular hemichorea: case report and review.
abstract: Chorea rarely complicates ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebral vascular lesions. Clinical symptoms usually involve one side of the body while the injury is situated on the contralateral cerebral hemisphere. Spontaneous remission is the norm, but sometimes symptomatic treatment is required. A 58-year-old male patient who suffers from untreated high blood pressure, type II obesity, smokes 6 packs of cigarettes per year and has a moderate intake of alcohol is presented. The patient's recent history began three days before he appeared at the Emergency Department. His symptoms were ceaseless, involuntary movements in his left arm and foot during day and night with no restriction of voluntary movements. Physical examination and laboratory tests revealed no other findings. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed hyperintensity in the right posterolateral thalamic region consistent with ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Symptomatic therapy was indicated and his underlying conditions were addressed. The importance of this case lies on the low prevalence as well as the scarcity of publications regarding vascular causes of hemichorea, including diagnosis, therapy and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Dr. Miguel Pérez Carreño, Caracas, Venezuela; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. Address: Ciudad Universitaria, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas, Venezuela. Email: barbara_martinez_alfonzo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martínez Alfonzo
authors.affiliation: Hospital Dr. Miguel Pérez Carreño, Caracas, Venezuela; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Andrés Enrique
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Hospital Dr. Miguel Pérez Carreño, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Jairo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rojano
authors.affiliation: Clínica La Salina, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A; Instituto Nacional de Higiene "Rafael Rangel", Ministerio Popular para la Salud, Venezuela.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Calleja
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002819:Chorea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: vascular hemichorea