Non-ketotic hyperglycaemic hemichorea: a rare complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi Vol. 29; no. 6; p. 556
• Main Authors: Lam, P L, Iu, P P, Cho, D H Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Chinese
• Published: China Hong Kong Academy of Medicine 01.12.2023
• Subjects: Blood tests; Case reports; Chorea - complications; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Edema; Glucose; Hemorrhage; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Hyperglycemia - complications; Insulin; Magnetic resonance imaging; Patients; Tomography; Hong Kong China; China
• ISSN: 1024-2708; 2226-8707
• DOI: 10.12809/hkmj2210290

Urgent non-contrast CT of the brain showed asymmetric subtle hyperdensity in bilateral putamen and caudate nuclei, more extensive on the right, but without mass effect or surrounding oedema (Fig 3). Non-contrast computed tomography of the brain showing asymmetric subtle hyperdensity in bilateral putamen (a) [arrows] and bilateral caudate nuclei (b) [arrowheads], more extensive on the right, without mass effect or surrounding oedema, in keeping with non-ketotic hyperglycaemic hemichorea Discussion Unilateral or asymmetric basal ganglia hyperdensity in brain CT of patients with focal neurological symptoms can be alarming, and intracerebral haemorrhage may be suspected. Neurological symptoms of NHH usually show substantial improvement after normalisation of blood glucose level without additional intervention.2 3 4 Author contributions All authors contributed to the concept and design of the study, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of the manuscript, and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content.