Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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Chorea, a movement disorder characterised by a continuous flow of unpredictable muscle contractions, has a myriad of genetic and non-genetic causes. Although autoimmune processes are rare aetiology of chorea, they are relevant both for researchers and clinicians. The aim of this article is to provide a review of the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features, pathogenesis and management of the most common autoimmune causes of chorea. Emphasis is given particularly to Sydenham's chorea, systemic lupus erythematosus, primary antiphospolipid antibody syndrome, paraneoplastic chorea and anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · May 2017
Are psychogenic non-epileptic seizures just another symptom of conversion disorder?
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are classified with other functional neurological symptoms as 'Conversion Disorder', but there are reasons to wonder whether this symptomatology constitutes a distinct entity. ⋯ We argue that the aetiological and mechanistic distinctions they support, particularly when bolstered by additional data, give reason to sustain a separation between these conditions.