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Case Reports
. 2024 Sep;39(12):2347-2350.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-024-08666-1. Epub 2024 Jun 17.

Chorea - Is Diabetes Mellitus the Cause?

Tina Phan  1   2 , Elisabeth Klouda  3   4 , Christopher D Jackson  3   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Chorea - Is Diabetes Mellitus the Cause?

Tina Phan et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Diabetic striatopathy (DS) is an uncommon complication of diabetes characterized by hemiballismus-hemichorea, often accompanied by reversible striatal hyperintensity on neuroimaging. Diabetes is the most common metabolic cause of hemiballismus and hemichorea. However, it is underreported as clinicians do not always consider it in the diagnosis of new movement abnormalities. The prognosis is generally excellent, and management involves glycemic control and anti-chorea medications. We present a case of a patient with bilateral chorea and ballismus and classic MRI findings of DS, though his history of diabetes and substance use confounds the clinical picture of DS.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figures 1 and 2
Figures 1 and 2
MRI of the brain without contrast. Figures show the T1-hyperintensity seen in the bilateral striatum (arrows).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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