Lethal Catatonia in the Right Middle Cerebral Artery Territory Infarction

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 21(3); 2003 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2003;21(3): 307-310.

우측 중대뇌동맥 영역의 경색에서 나타난 치명적 긴장증

홍지만 , 신상건 방오영 허 균 주인수

아주대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

Lethal Catatonia in the Right Middle Cerebral Artery Territory Infarction

Ji-Man Hong

Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Ajou University

Abstract

"Lethal catatonia is a rare and fatal clinical syndrome. It has diverse etiologies, both functional and organic. We expe-rienced a man with left hemiplegia and striking catatonia. Brain imaging showed a large right hemispheric infarction and hypoperfusion. Symptoms and signs of catatonia were markedly improved after treatment of dopa-agonist and ben-zodiazepine. This case suggests that right hemispheric infarction could be a possible cause of lethal catatonia, and sup-ports earlier clinical literature relating catatonia and the parietal lobe.Key Words: Lethal catatonia ,Hemispheric infarction"