Level I Hyperglycemia Alert: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Nonketotic hyperglycemia-associated chorea is a rare neurological disorder.
• It can be misdiagnosed as seizure or stroke in emergency departments.
• Prompt recognition and treatment can reverse symptoms and avoid harmful interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the diagnostic challenges of nonketotic hyperglycemia-associated chorea.
• To emphasize the importance of recognizing key clinical and imaging features.
• To guide emergency physicians in appropriate management.

Main Methods:

• Case report presentation.
• Discussion of diagnostic pitfalls.
• Review of imaging findings (head CT).

Main Results:

• A case where nonketotic hyperglycemia-associated chorea was initially misidentified as a hemorrhagic stroke due to false-positive CT interpretation.
• Demonstration of how hyperglycemia can mimic stroke presentations.

Conclusions:

• Nonketotic hyperglycemia can present with symptoms and imaging findings similar to stroke.
• Prompt identification of hyperglycemia is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
• Appropriate management of hyperglycemia leads to symptom reversal.