Movement disorders due to cerebral Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Abstract

Hemichorea and parkinsonism are unusual manifestations of cerebral toxoplasmosis in patients with AIDS. We here describe two such cases and we reviewed extensively the literature (through computer searches using MEDLINE) for other reported instances. In our patients, unlike the other neurological symptoms, the response of the movement disorders to anti-toxoplasmosis therapy was delayed and only partial. We demonstrate that tetrabenazine is a valuable additional symptomatic treatment for choreic movements in one of our patients. We emphasize that, among patients suffering from AIDS, particularly in countries with high prevalence of toxoplasmosis, the occurrence of movement disorders should first suggest the diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis.