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Infantile chorea in an infant with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia: an EMG study
M Hadders-Algra1, A F Bos, A Martijn
1Department of Developmental Neurology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
Insights
A new movement disorder, infantile chorea, has been identified in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This condition, potentially linked to striato-thalamic dysfunction, emerges around 2-3 months post-term.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease affecting preterm infants.
- Preterm infants with BPD are at risk for various neurodevelopmental complications.
- A novel movement disorder has been recently observed in this population.
Observation:
- This report details a single infant case with a new movement disorder.
- Polyelectromyography and serial cranial ultrasound findings were documented.
- The infant presented with characteristic involuntary movements.
Findings:
- The movement disorder is proposed to be named 'infantile chorea'.
- Movement patterns and EMG findings resemble adult chorea.
- The condition is hypothesized to stem from striato-thalamic circuitry dysfunction.
Implications:
- Infantile chorea may be an emerging neurological complication in preterm infants with BPD.
- Understanding the pathophysiology could lead to targeted interventions.
- Further research is needed to confirm the prevalence and underlying mechanisms.
Abstract:
Recently a new movement disorder has been described which develops in some preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The present report provides a detailed description (including polyelectromyographical and serial cranial ultrasound findings) of this syndrome in a single infant. The authors suggest that the movement disorder be called infantile chorea, because the movement characteristics and EMG bursting pattern resemble those of adult chorea. It is hypothesized that 'infantile chorea', which is assumed to be caused by dysfunction of the striato-thalamic circuitry, emerges at the age of two to three months post-erm as thalamo-cortical connections are supposed to become functionally active.