[Unilateral asterixis associated with anatomic cerebral lesions].

Three patients with unilateral asterixis associated with different vascular lesions of thalamus, basal ganglia and internal and external capsules of contralateral hemisphere are described. Unilateral asterixis is a highly indicative sign of focal cerebral lesion. Its pathophysiology is still unknown. It has been postulated that asterixis is a myoclonic phenomenon resulting from malfunction within neuronal circuits of central nervous system responsible for the active maintenance of posture.