Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is a neurological disorder characterized by brief episodes of involuntary movements triggered by sudden movements. It is most common among children and adolescents of Asian descent. Episodes typically last less than one minute and are often triggered by activities like standing, running, or moving suddenly. The primary cause of PKD is mutations in the PRRT2 gene. Diagnosis is based on clinical history and examination findings, and treatment involves low-dose anti-seizure medications or lifestyle adaptations to avoid triggers.

1. PAROXYSMAL KINESIGENIC
DYSKINESIA
Ade Wijaya, MD – January 2023

2. Introduction
 Paroxysmal Dyskinesias are a group of
neurological diseases characterized by
intermittent episodes of involuntary
movements with different causes
 Dystonia, chorea, ballism, or a combination
thereof
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: an expert
consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-0.

3. Paroxysmal Dyskinesias
 Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD)
- Most common
- First described by Kertesz in 1976
 Paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia
(PNKD)
 Paroxysmal exercise-induced dyskinesia
(PED)
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: an expert
consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-0.
Kertesz A. Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis. An entity within the paroxysmal choreoathetosis syndrome. Description of 10 cases, including 1 autopsied. Neurology. 1967;17(7):680–90.

4. Paroxysmal Kinesigenic
Dyskinesia

5. Epidemiology
 Prevalence: 1:150,000 individuals
 Asian ethnicity and are from China and Japan,
followed by North America and Europe
 Age of onset: several months to 20 years, with
a particularly high incidence among 7- to 15-
year-old children and adolescents
 Males > females
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: an expert
consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-0.

6. Triggers
 Sudden standing, starting to run, getting on
and off a car, and encountering traffic lights
 Changes in the speed or amplitude of
movements, addition of another type of
movement during an activity, or even the intent
to move can also cause an attack
 Episodes are more likely to be triggered when
an individual is under emotional stress,
stimulated by a sound or image, or
hyperventilating
Bruno MK, Hallett M, Gwinn-Hardy K, Sorensen B, Considine E, Tucker S, et al. Clinical evaluation of idiopathic paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: new diagnostic criteria. Neurology.
Huang XJ, Wang SG, Guo XN, Tian WT, Zhan FX, Zhu ZY, et al. The phenotypic and genetic spectrum of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia in China. Mov Disord.
2020;35(8):1428–37.
Bhatia KP. Paroxysmal dyskinesias. Mov Disord. 2011;26(6):1157–65.

7. Aura
 Abnormal sensations prior to the appearance of
involuntary movements induced by a sudden
movement or movement intention
 Difficult to describe accurately and differs by
individual
 78–82% of patients with PKD may experience
aura
 Most common: numbness, tingling, and muscle
weakness
 Some patients have been able to alleviate the
dyskinesia attack by slowing their movements
when experiencing aura
 In some cases, aura appears in isolation without
subsequent dyskinesia attacks
Bhatia KP. Paroxysmal dyskinesias. Mov Disord. 2011;26(6):1157–65.
Huang XJ, Wang SG, Guo XN, Tian WT, Zhan FX, Zhu ZY, et al. The phenotypic and genetic spectrum of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia in China. Mov Disord.
2020;35(8):1428–37.
Bruno MK, Hallett M, Gwinn-Hardy K, Sorensen B, Considine E, Tucker S, et al. Clinical evaluation of idiopathic paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: new diagnostic criteria. Neurology.

8. Attack Forms
 Unilateral or bilateral
 Dystonia is the most common, followed by
chorea and ballism
 Face involvement: 70 % of patients: face
twitching, rigidity of facial muscles and
dysarthria, which may be related to
the dystonia of facial or laryngeal muscles
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: an expert
consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-0.

9. Duration and Frequency of
Attacks
 < 1 min in over 98% of patients
 For patients with prolonged duration, the
secondary factors of PKD should be excluded
 Frequency: ranging from several times a year to
more than 100 times per day
 The frequency of PKD attacks usually peaks
during puberty and decreases after the age of
20 years
 Some patients rarely experience attacks or even
experience spontaneous remission of the disease
after the age of 30 years
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: an expert
consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-0.

10. Clinical Classification
 Pure form: only kinesigenic dyskinesia
 Complicated form: present with neurological
symptoms in addition to the kinesigenic
dyskinesia
- These combined manifestations include
benign familial infantile epilepsy (BFIE), febrile
convulsion, migraine, hemiplegic migraine,
episodic ataxia, epilepsy and other episodic
diseases
- A few patients exhibit developmental delay,
intellectual deficit, language dysfunction or
Erro R, Bhatia KP. Unravelling of the paroxysmal dyskinesias. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2019;90(2):227–34.
Delcourt M, Riant F, Mancini J, Milh M, Navarro V, Roze E, et al. Severe phenotypic spectrum of biallelic mutations in PRRT2 gene. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.
2015;86(7):782–5.
Weber A, Kohler A, Hahn A, Neubauer B, Muller U. Benign infantile convulsions (IC) and subsequent paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) in a patient with 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome.
Neurogenetics. 2013;14(3–4):251–3.

11. Etiology and Pathogenesis
 Primary PKD - PRRT2 is the major causative gene for
PKD
- Familial: autosomal dominant (60-90%)
- Sporadic
 Secondary PKD
- Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous
system, cerebrovascular diseases, traumatic brain
injury, or metabolic abnormalities
- Most common: relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
- Calcification of the basal ganglia, including the
idiopathic basal ganglial calcification and the basal
ganglial calcification secondary to hypoparathyroidism
or pseudo-parathyroidism
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: an expert
consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-0.

12. Diagnosis Criteria
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: an expert
consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-0.

13. Diagnosis Algorhytm
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang
Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic
dyskinesia: an expert consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021

14. Differential Diagnosis
 Epilepsy
 Primary PNKD
 PED
 Psychological movement disorders and
pseudoseizures
 Tics
 Hyperekplexia
 Sandifer Syndrome
 Benign paroxysmal torticollis
 Transient dystonia of infancy
 Benign myoclonus of early infancy
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: an expert
consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-0.

15. Treatment
 Medication:
- Low-dose carbamazepine (50–200 mg/day) or
oxcarbazepine (75–300 mg/day)
- Second line: lamotrigine, topiramate, and
phenytoin sodium
 Psychotherapy
 Treat underlying diseases in secondary PKD
Cao L, Huang X, Wang N, Wu Z, Zhang C, Gu W, Cong S, Ma J, Wei L, Deng Y, Fang Q. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: an expert
consensus in China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-0.

16. Summary
 PKD is a type of paroxysmal dyskinesia with
high clinical and genetic heterogeneity
 Rare
 The diagnosis of PKD is based mainly on
clinical features, and necessary evaluations
are needed to exclude secondary etiologies
 Personalized medical therapy and
psychotherapy are recommended.

17. THANK YOU