Hemichorea caused by cerebrovascular lesion (A report of six cases)

Six cases in whom hemichorea occurred at age over sixty are reported. Three patients had history of apoplexy and all there was a history of hypertension, atheroscherosis or/and diabetes mellitus in six. The onset of choreiform movements was suddenly and they were more distinct over the upper extremiteis than the lower one. Only 4 cases had involuntory movement of the facial and tongue mucles. All cases had no history of demantia or positive family history. The symptoms disappeared one to several weeks after the onset. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical features, by CT scan or autopsy.lschemic lesions were revealed in all but one, in which a small hypertensive hemorrhage was found. Ischemic area located in basal ganglia in 2 cases, head of caudate nucleus in 1 and indifinte in the others. The literature concerning hemichorea due to cerebrovascularlesion were reviewed and the pathogenesis, mental abnomolity and prognosis were discussed.