The spectrum of movement disorders in children with anti‐NMDA receptor encephalitis. Issue 4 (11th February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baizabal‐Carvallo, José Fidel; Stocco, Amber; Muscal, Eyal; Jankovic, Joseph
• Is Part Of: Movement disorders. Volume 28:Issue 4(2013)
• Page Start: 543
• Page End: 547
• Publication Date: 2013-02-11
• Subjects: Movement disorders -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.25354
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3185

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="mds25354-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Movement disorders are frequent but difficult to characterize in patients with anti‐<italic>N</italic>‐methyl‐<sc>d</sc>‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis.</p> </sec> <sec id="mds25354-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The phenomenology of movement disorders was characterized after a detailed examination of children with anti‐NMDAR‐encephalitis.</p> </sec> <sec id="mds25354-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="mds25354-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>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 <italic>Movement</italic> Disorder Society</p> </sec> </abstract>