Paroxysmal dyskinesias in patients with HIV infection

Objective: To determine the clinical features of paroxysmal dyskinesias amo ng HIV type 1 (HIV-1)seropositive patients. Background: Movement disorders have been associated with HIV infection, although the full spectrum of thes e disorders remains uncertain. Methods: Six adult HIV-1-seropositive patien ts presenting with paroxysmal dyskinesias were identified. Each patient und erwent metabolic, CSF, EEG, and neuroimaging studies. Results: Mean age at onset was 34.5 years and five of six patients were AIDS defined. Dyskinesia s 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 benef icial in three of six patients. Two patients with HIV-associated dementia a nd paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia had a progressive course to death. Autopsy of a patient with paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesias revealed in tense astrogliosis and loss of calbindin-positive neurons in the subcortica l gray matter. Conclusions: Paroxysmal dyskinesias may present as a primary HIV-1-induced neurologic syndrome. The occurrence of paroxysmal dyskinesia s is associated with neuronal injury and loss in the subcortical gray matte r but the mechanism remains unknown.