Action-induced rhythmic dystonia: an autopsy case.

We studied a patient with action-induced rhythmic dystonia that followed a stroke. Postmortem studies showed an infarct in the right posterolateral ventral part of the thalamus. Electrophysiologic analysis indicated that the eliciting factor of the involuntary movement was an impulse, promoting voluntary contraction of muscle. CSF 5-HIAA content was low, and HVA was high. Administration of 5-HTP and clonazepam abolished the involuntary movements.