Movement disorders in multiple sclerosis: causal or coincidental association?

Abstract

Despite the relatively frequent involvement of the basal ganglia and subthalamic nucleus by multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques, movement disorders (MD), other than tremor secondary to cerebellar or brainstem lesions, are uncommon clinical manifestations of MS. MD were present in 12 of 733 patients with MS (1.6%): three patients had parkinsonism, two blepharospasm, five hemifacial spasm, one hemidystonia, and one tourettism. MD in patients with MS are often secondary to demyelinating disease. Also in cases without response to steroid treatment and demyelinating lesions in critical regions, it is not possible to exclude that MD and MS are causally related.

The many faces of hemifacial spasm: Differential diagnosis of unilateral facial spasms

“…In 2 patients the plaques were found in the area of the facial nucleus on the involved side, supporting a central (brain stem) origin of HFS 52. In another series, 5 of 733 patients had HFS associated with multiple sclerosis 53. Although no demyelinating lesions were noted in the brain stem, the authors concluded that HFS was caused by multiple sclerosis, as these patients improved with high‐dose intravenous methylprednisolone treatment.…”

Tourettism in Multiple Sclerosis: A case report

“…Tourettism is very rarely associated with MS [5]. Only two cases of patients affected by MS who showed simple phonic tic [6] and complex vocal tics [7] have been reported.…”

Hemifacial Spasm in Late-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

“…Tremor is the most frequent movement disorder in MS [17]. Other movement disorders are paroxysmal dystonia, chorea, ballism, myoclonus, tourettism, restless leg syndrome and hemifacial spasm (HFS).…”