Respiratory Dyskinesias: Extrapyramidal Dysfunction and Dyspnea

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-88-3-327

Respiratory Dyskinesias: Extrapyramidal Dysfunction and Dyspnea

Chicago, Illinois

Abstract

Four patients had acute dyspnea and chest pain due to primary neurologic disease, not to cardiac or pulmonary disorders. They suffered from severe, involuntary respiratory dyskinesias, which resulted in an irregular respiratory rate, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort. These respiratory dyskinesias occurred as one aspect of more generalized choreiform movement disorders. Three patients had neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesias, and one had levodopa-induced dyskinesias. As a result of their ages and the nature of their complaints, some of these patients were originally thought to have cardiac and pulmonary disorders. Respiratory dyskinesias should be considered as a possible cause of respiratory distress in patients with extrapyramidal dysfunction.

Article and Author Information

▸From the Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center and Rush University; Chicago, Illinois.
Grant support: in part by grants from the United Parkinson Foundation and the Boothroyd Foundation, Chicago, Illinois.
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to William J. Weiner, M.D.; Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, 1753 West Congress Parkway; Chicago, IL 60612.
- Received June 20, 1977.
- Accepted November 16, 1977.