Generalized Choreoathetosis in an Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Patient with Cerebral Toxoplasmosis

Authors: İPEK MİDİ, HARİKA G. ÇALIŞKAN, ZAFER TOKTAŞ, AYDIN SAV, DİLEK İ. GÜNAL

Abstract: Many hypokinetic and hyperkinetic movement disorders (e.g. parkinsonism, chorea, myoclonus, dystonia) are associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and may sometimes represent the initial manifestation of the illness. We described a 37-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient with generalized choreoathetoid movements associated with AIDS. Cranial MRI revealed multiple cerebral and cerebellar abscesses. The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was established by brain biopsy. Hemichorea and hemiballismus in AIDS patients are pathognomonic findings of cerebral toxoplasmosis. Generalized choreiform movement is a rare condition and related to the bilateral cerebral involvement in toxoplasma disease affecting the subcortical structures.

Keywords: AIDS, choreoathetosis, cerebral toxoplasma abscesses

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