Metronidazole‐induced encephalopathy and myoclonus: Case report and a review of the literature

Abstract

AbstractWe describe a 36‐year‐old man with metronidazole‐induced encephalopathy in the course of alcoholic liver cirrhosis who developed periodic myoclonus on the head and fixed eye position with ocular myoclonus in the vertical direction. Involuntary movements are rare in patients with metronidazole‐induced encephalopathy, because neurological manifestations of metronidazole‐induced encephalopathy usually include ataxic gait, dysarthria and confusion. Involuntary movements including myoclonus should be considered as the clinical manifestation of metronidazole‐induced encephalopathy. In addition, we review the literature of metronidazole‐induced encephalopathy patients who developed myoclonus with regard to the clinical characteristics.