Lingual Hyperkinesia as An Initial Manifestation of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy: Evidence for Localization of Involuntary Hyperkinetic Movement of the Tongue

Abstract

Background: Movement disorders caused by Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) are very rarely reported, and involuntary hyperkinesia of the tongue as an initial manifestation of WE have not yet been reported. The study aimed to investigate the path mechanism and localization of involuntary lingual movement symptoms. Methods: We present a patient with lingual hyperkinesia as an initial manifestation of WE, who had lesions of the periaqueductal area of the midbrain tectum and bilaterally medial thalami in Brain MRI. Patient’s lingual symptoms were observed and analyzed sequentially for localization of involuntary hyperkinetic movement of the tongue. Results: Lingual hyperkinesia symptoms of the patient diagnosed in WE, occurred in advance and were more earlier improved by thiamine treatment before other brainstem symptoms. Conclusion: The clinical and neuro-radiological results discussed here may provide support for the localization of lingual hyperkinetic movement disorders. In addition to brainstem lesion, thalamic lesion should be considered in cases of acute or subacute-onset, involuntary hyperkinetic movement of the tongue.