Objective: We shows the three patients which some neurologists diagnosed psychological disorders at first. Their movement disorders are due to postinfectious neurologic syndromes (Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Mumps virus, Human parvovirus B19 (PVB19) infection ).

Background: Clinical diagnostic criteria for psychogenic movement disorders are based on both clinical findings that are incongruent with organic movement disorders and objective findings of brain MRI or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. Unreasonable neurological findings, normal brain MRI findings, and no pleocytosis in CSF often lead to functional disorders. Many neurologists don’t think of postinfectious neurologic syndromes as a cause of movement disorder. Postinfectious neurologic syndromes are underestimated in the movement disorder area.

Methods: The three movement disorders patients` clinical feature are presented as post infectious neurologic disorders.

Results: Cerebellitis after EBV infection, bradyphrenia and facial bradykinesia after mumps virus infection, fixed dystonia and spastic leg after PVB19 are demonstrated (positive viral antibody test, positive viral PCR test in serum). Normal brain MRI, no pleocytosis in CSF, normal albumin quotient (CSF/serum), and elevated IL-8 in CSF are their common image/laboratory findings. The dystonia of the right leg are showed by surface electromyography: co-contraction of tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle. All three patients received intravenous methylprednisolone 1g daily for 3 to 6 days, up to a total dose of 6 g, and completely recovered.

Conclusions: Postinfectious neurologic syndromes are one of the important cause of movement disorders. Moving toward laboratory-supported diagnosis for movement disorders is desirable, so emphasis on seeking for the cause of movement disorders should be placed.

References: 1. Neurology 2013; 80: 882-889. 2. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2015; 86: 933-934. 3. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders 2017; 14: 12-15.

« Back to 2018 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/movement-disorders-as-postinfectious-neurologic-syndromes/