[Medication-related oculogyric crises: a description of four cases and a review of the literature].

INTRODUCTION: Oculogyric crises are considered to be a form of focal dystonia and can be observed as reactions to pharmaceuticals. The signs and symptoms may be confused with epileptic crises.

AIMS: To describe the clinical features and progress of patients with pharmaceutical-related oculogyric crises and to carry out a review of the topic.

CASE REPORTS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study of four patients evaluated in the neurology service due to oculogyric crises. The patients had been diagnosed with an associated conduct disorder requiring treatment with antipsychotic drugs. The episodes of oculogyric crises did not correlate with the findings in the electroencephalogram. They responded well to the reduction in dosage or to withdrawal of the apparent causing agent.

CONCLUSIONS: The clinical picture does not present only in patients treated with antipsychotics but is also linked with other pharmaceuticals that are frequently used in daily paediatric practice. When oculogyric crises are the reason for visiting, differential diagnoses must be taken into account in order to avoid unnecessary studies and to carry out an appropriate therapeutic management.