Monday 20 September 2010

MRCP revision battle 16.5: Hemiballismus

Hemiballismus is large amplitude, flinging hemichorea.


Its cause is damage to the contralateral subthalamic nuclei.


The commonest cause is stroke.


Treatment:
  • hemiballismus generally resolves spontaneously in 4 to 8 weeks
  • haloperidol (a dopamine blocker) may be used
  • tetrabenazine (a VMAT inhibitor) may be used

Bilateral hemiballismus is rare and tends to be associated with HONK.



After that brief battle onwards to the meatier topic of prolactin