Paroxysmal dyskinesias

Abstract

Paroxysmal dyskinesias are a rare group of hyperkinetic movement disorders mainly characterized by their episodic nature. Neurological examination may be entirely normal between attacks. Three main types of paroxysmal dyskinesias can be distinguished based upon their precipitating events – (i) paroxysmal non-kinesiogenic dyskinesias (PNKD), (ii) paroxysmal kinesiogenic dyskinesias (PKD) and (iii) paroxysmal exercise-induced (exertion- induced) dyskinesias (PED). All three have to be clearly differentiated from non-epileptic psychogenic, non-epileptic organic and epileptic attack disorders. We describe a woman who suffered from paroxysmal kinesiogenic dyskinesia and elucidate the clinical characteristics and differential diagnosis of these paroxysmal disorders.