Fahr's disease Vs. drug induced movement disorder: case report and literature review

ABSTRACT

Fahr's disease is a rare idiopathic degenerative neurological disorder, which can be present in different heterogeneous manifestations and characterized by bilateral symmetrical cerebral calcification. These presentations usually involve basal ganglia, manifested with multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. We described a patient with acute onset schizophrenia, who developed abnormal choreoathetoid movement three years later. His brain imaging studies showed extensive bilateral cerebral calcification, the patient was diagnosed with a sporadic case of Fahr's disease. Brain imaging should be considered in acute onset schizophrenia to rule out organic causes. Fahr's disease can be a differential diagnosis when extrapyramidal symptoms and abnormal movement appear and are not improved on treatment