Upper facial chorea in Huntington disease

J Clin Mov Disord. 2014 Nov 20:1:7. doi: 10.1186/2054-7072-1-7. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

To provide a systematic description of component movements of upper facial chorea in Huntington disease, consecutive videos of 25 active patients with confirmed diagnosis were scored on eye opening, eye closing, and procerus/corrugator contractions. Of the 25 patients evaluated, 76% exhibited intermittently widened palpebral fissures associated with frontalis contractions. Brief periods of repetitive but irregular blinking were observed in 16%. 8% had brief spasms of the orbital portion of the orbicularis oculi muscles. In addition, brief contractions of procerus and corrugator supercilii muscles were noted in 52%.

Keywords: Chorea; Huntington disease.