Asterixis as a Focal Neurologic Sign: Report of Three Cases and Literature Review

Asterixis, firstly described in metabolic encephalopathies, may occurunilaterally in patients with various focal brain diseases. Although hardlylocalizing, most reported cases have showed a contralateral thalamic pathology;but Lesions in the medial frontal lobe, parietal lobe, brain stem, basal ganglia,insular lesions, may also cause unilateral asterixis. In this article, three cases ofacute cerebral vascular event with unilateral or asymmetrical asterixis weredescribed: first patient with left sided hemiparesis and asterixis that ultimatelydiagnosed as right thalamic hemmorrage; second patient with right sidedhemiparesis and asterixis after acute left thalamic infarction and a patient withtransient right sided weakness and bilateral asymmetrical asterixis secondary toa transient ischemic attack in left internal carotid territory. We then provided aliterature review of published similar cases to emphasize on asterixis as a focalneurological sign.

کلیدواژه ها:

Asterixis ، Thalamus