Choreoathetosis in the Setting of Human Herpesvirus-6 Infection in a Transplant Recipient

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) has been associated with various neurologic disorders, but movement disorders are rare. This case describes a patient who developed a choreoathetotic movement disorder in the setting of HHV-6 infection.

A 72-year-old woman with AML and recent HHV-6 encephalitis following stem cell transplant presented with involuntary movements. Neurologic examination demonstrated motor impersistence and irregular non-stereotyped writhing movements consistent with a choreoathetotic movement disorder secondary to HHV-6 infection.

This is the first literature reported case of adult-onset chorea associated with HHV-6 infection, though it remains unclear if the movement disorder was from the infection or a secondary autoimmune response.