A prospective series of patients with hyperglycaemia-associated movement disorders

Hyperglycaemia-associated movement disorders (MD) usually appear in older patients with diabetes and are related to acute peaks in blood glucose levels. This study aimed to describe the clinical features of a prospective series of patients with movement disorders associated with hyperglycaemia. We present a series of seven women and three men diagnosed with hyperglycaemia-associated MD who were followed for at least 1 year. Clinical evolution, treatment and neuroimaging findings are presented. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) of the age at onset was 67.7 +/- 11.7 years and mean (SD) fasting glucose was 359.7 +/- 162.5 mg/dL. Putaminal hyperintensity on T1-weighted MRI was present in almost all instances. Two patients had pontine lesions compatible with osmotic myelinolysis. At follow-up, eight patients had a complete remission. We conclude that the clinical profile of patients in our series is similar to those reported in the literature. No clinical or metabolic features were found to be correlated with remission. Similarities with osmotic myelinolysis syndromes are discussed as an alternative aetiological hypothesis. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.