Professional paper

Reversible hemichorea-hemiballismus caused by internal carotid artery stenosis - Case report

Irena Gašparić ; Opća županijska bolnica Požega, Odjel za neurologiju
Ferdinand Slišurić ; Opća županijska bolnica Požega, Odjel kirurgije
Tomislav Stastny ; Opća županijska bolnica Požega, Odjel kirurgije
Sandra Gašparić ; Opća županijska bolnica Požega, Odjel za patologiju

Abstract

Hemiballismus and hemichorea are involuntary movements occurring due to damage to the subthalamic nucleus and basal ganglia. Most often, they are consequences of strokes, metabolic disorders, thyreotocsicosis or use of certain medicines. It is rarely caused by carotid artery stenosis, without clinical and neuroradiological signs of a stroke.
In the present paper, we have demonstrated a rare case of a patient suffering from transient hemiballismus and hemichorea caused by significant stenosis of the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery. A neuroradiological review of the brain did not record any acute vascular lesions in the basal ganglia. As a consequence of internal carotid artery stenosis, hypoperfusion developed within its supply area and basal ganglia hemodynamic changes – resulting in hemichorea-hemiballismus type of involuntary movements. There were no adequate clinical effects in response to a performed medication treatment and a surgical treatment of the stenosis was selected. After carotid endarterectomy completion, cerebral hemodynamics and the clinical condition of the patient improved. New involuntary movements were no longer observed following surgery.
The objective is to review a rare case of involuntary movements caused by significant internal carotid artery stenosis and basal ganglia hemodynamic changes.The treatment of the carotid disease using endarterectomy achieved an improvement of cerebral microcirculation and cessation of involuntary movements.

Keywords

hemibalismus; hemichorea; lacunar infarctions; carotid stenosis

Hrčak ID:

187215

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/187215

Publication date:

3.10.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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