Hyperglycemia as a cause of choreoathetosis: Two case reports and review of the literature

Abstract

Hemiballism–hemichorea (HB–HK) is a spectrum of involuntary movements in one side of the body. Most frequent cause of this spectrum is focal vascular lesion in the contralateral basal ganglia and in case of metabolic dysfunctions there is no accompanying vascular lesion. We present clinical, cranial tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) findings of two cases, who are 65 and 77 years old, and admitted to the emergency care unit with the complaint of involuntary choreoathetoid movements and found to have nonketotic hyperglycemia. Since treatment of the underlying hyperglycemia usually reverse clinical findings, it is important to consider metabolic alterations as a cause of involuntary movements. Involuntary movements of both patients regressed significantly following decrease in serum glucose levels.