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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1996 Aug;61(2):194–195. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.61.2.194

A case report of paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis due to hypoglycaemia induced by an insulinoma.

C Shaw 1, L Haas 1, D Miller 1, J Delahunt 1
PMCID: PMC1073995  PMID: 8708689

Abstract

Hypoglycaemia due to an insulinoma can mimic acute disorders of cognition, consciousness, epilepsy, transient ischaemia, or psychosis, and chronic disorders of dementia and neuropathy. Misdiagnosis and delay in treatment are common and prolonged hypoglycaemia can lead to permanent neurological deficit or fatal coma. A 27 year old woman with hypoglycaemia induced by an insulinoma presented with features typical of paroxysmal non-kinesiogenic dystonic choreoathetosis. Striatal dysfunction as a consequence of hypoglycaemia has rarely been described. Insulinoma is a readily treatable condition that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a paroxysmal movement disorder.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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