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The spectrum of movement disorders in children with anti‐ NMDA receptor encephalitis
Author(s) -
BaizabalCarvallo José Fidel,
Stocco Amber,
Muscal Eyal,
Jankovic Joseph
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.25354
Subject(s) - movement disorders , dystonia , chorea , choreiform movement , blepharospasm , tetrabenazine , encephalitis , athetosis , ataxia , psychology , choreoathetosis , medicine , dyskinesia , neuroscience , pediatrics , immunology , disease , parkinson's disease , virus , dopamine
Background Movement disorders are frequent but difficult to characterize in patients with anti‐ N ‐methyl‐ d ‐aspartate receptor ( NMDAR ) encephalitis. Methods The phenomenology of movement disorders was characterized after a detailed examination of children with anti‐ NMDAR ‐encephalitis. Results We studied 9 children (5 females), ages 3–14 years, with confirmed anti‐ NMDAR ‐encephalitis. All patients presented with at least 1 movement disorder, including chorea (n=4), stereotypic movements (n=4), ataxia (n=3), limb dystonia (n=2), limb myorhythmia (n=2), oromandibular dystonia (n=2), facial myorhythmia, blepharospasm, opisthotonus, athetosis, and tremor (n=1, each). More than a single movement disorder was observed in 6 of these patients. Resolution of the abnormal movements was observed in all patients with immunotherapy; 1 patient improved with tetrabenazine. Conclusions A wide variety of movement disorders, often in combination, can be observed in children with anti‐ NMDAR encephalitis. Patients commonly present with more than a single movement disorder. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society