Laryngeal dystonia in a case of severe motor and intellectual disabilities due to Japanese encephalitis sequelae

Brain Dev. 2004 Aug;26(5):335-8. doi: 10.1016/S0387-7604(03)00194-3.

Abstract

Laryngeal dystonia is characterized by stridor due to vocal cord dystonia and is observed in extrapyramidal disorders. Recently, botulinum toxin injection has been used as a primary therapy. Generally, severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) are frequently complicated by various types of respiratory disorders. We report a SMID case with Japanese encephalitis sequelae showing repeated vocal cord abductor disturbance due to laryngeal dystonia, in addition to generalized dystonia, in whom MRI revealed basal ganglia lesions. Tracheostomy was effective for the case, and we believe that botulinum toxin injection may be inappropriate in SMID, both ethically and technically. Also, laryngeal dystonia should be considered as a cause of respiratory disorders in SMID.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Basal Ganglia / pathology
  • Dystonia / etiology*
  • Electromyography
  • Encephalitis, Japanese / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intelligence
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mental Disorders / etiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement Disorders / etiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / etiology
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / surgery
  • Tracheostomy
  • Vocal Cord Paralysis / etiology*