Paroxysmal dyskinesias in patients with HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical features of paroxysmal dyskinesias among HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive patients.

BACKGROUND

Movement disorders have been associated with HIV infection, although the full spectrum of these disorders remains uncertain.

METHODS

Six adult HIV-1-seropositive patients presenting with paroxysmal dyskinesias were identified. Each patient underwent metabolic, CSF, EEG, and neuroimaging studies.

RESULTS

Mean age at onset was 34.5 years and five of six patients were AIDS defined. Dyskinesias were focal, multifocal, or hemidystonic in four patients and generalized in another two patients. Two of the six patients had paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesias and the remaining four patients had paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesias. Choreoathetosis (n = 3), myoclonus (n = 2), postural tremor (n = 5), and dysarthria (n = 3) were observed. Benzodiazepines appeared beneficial in three of six patients. Two patients with HIV-associated dementia and paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia had a progressive course to death. Autopsy of a patient with paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesias revealed intense astrogliosis and loss of calbindin-positive neurons in the subcortical gray matter.

CONCLUSIONS

Paroxysmal dyskinesias may present as a primary HIV-1-induced neurologic syndrome. The occurrence of paroxysmal dyskinesias is associated with neuronal injury and loss in the subcortical gray matter but the mechanism remains unknown.