Unilateral pure thalamic asterixis: Clinical, electromyographic, and topographic patterns

Eleven patients (nine with infarctions and two with primary hematomas) with isolated thalamic lesions and contralateral asterixis were examined using a standard electromyographic and neuroimaging protocol. Asterixis was a sho rt-duration phenomenon associated with a hemiataxia hypesthesia syndrome in all patients. Electromechanical synchronization was constant for the two s ilent period types. The anatomic data strongly suggest that ventral lateral or lateral posterior thalamus are concerned in the pathophysiology of thal amic asterixis.