J Mov Disord.  2016 May;9(2):104-113. 10.14802/jmd.15047.

Movement Disorders in Non-Wilsonian Hepatic Cirrhotic Patients: The Subgroup Analysis of Various Phenotypes and Associated Risk Factors

• Methawasin K
• Chonmaitree P
• Wongjitrat C
• Rattanamongkolgul S
• Asawavichienjinda T

• KMID: 2308785
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14802/jmd.15047

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this subgroup analysis was to identify the risk factors associated with the development of various movement disorder phenotypes.
METHODS
Eighty-three non-Wilsonian cirrhotic patients with abnormal movements were allocated into the following groups: intention tremor, bradykinesia, Parkinsonism, and abnormal ocular movements. These movement types were considered the primary outcomes as there was a sufficient sample size. Researchers took into consideration the gender, etiologies of cirrhosis, cirrhosis-related complications, hepatic encephalopathy, medical illness, and some neurological deficits as potential factors associated with these movement disorders.
RESULTS
The male gender (p = 0.002) and alcoholic cirrhosis (p = 0.005) were significant factors for the prevalence of intention tremors. In bradykinesia, hepatic encephalopathy was highly statistically significant (p < 0.001), and females more commonly developed bradykinesia (p = 0.04). The Parkinsonism features in this study were confounded by hyperlipidemia (p = 0.04) and motor or sensory deficits (p = 0.02). Jerky pursuits and a horizontal nystagmus were detected. Jerky pursuits were significantly related to hepatic encephalopathy (p = 0.003) and bradykinesia, but there were no factors associated with the prevalence of nystagmus other than an intention tremor.
CONCLUSIONS
The association of alcoholic cirrhosis with the development of intention tremor indicates that the persistent cerebellar malfunction in cirrhotic patients is due to alcohol toxicity. The slowness of finger tapping and jerky pursuit eye movements are significantly associated with hepatic encephalopathy. Thus, further studies are needed to evaluate the diagnostic value of these two signs for an early detection of mild hepatic encephalopathy.

Keyword

Cirrhosis; Hepatic encephalopathy; Bradykinesia; Parkinsonism; Intention tremor; Jerky pursuit

MeSH Terms

Dyskinesias
Eye Movements
Female
Fibrosis
Fingers
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Humans
Hyperlipidemias
Hypokinesia
Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic
Male
Movement Disorders*
Nystagmus, Pathologic
Parkinsonian Disorders
Phenotype*
Prevalence
Risk Factors*
Sample Size
Tremor