quetiapine-fumarate and Calcinosis

Primary brain calcification (PBC), a neurodegenerative disorder with characteristic calcium deposits in the basal ganglia and other brain areas, typically presents with various neurological and psychiatric symptoms in the fourth or fifth decade of life or later. We present the case of a patient with psychiatric manifestations much earlier than usual, in the second decade of life.. The case of an adolescent female with acute psychotic symptoms, emotional instability, disorganized and suicidal behavior, stereotypical movements, below average intelligence and a three-year history of headaches is reported. Among others, the presentation included tactile hallucinations with secondary hypochondriacal delusions, which are rarely described in this diagnosis. Massive calcinations in the area of the basal ganglia and thalamus were determined by computerized tomography. Other causes of brain calcification were excluded. No causative mutations were found in selected genes. All the symptoms apart from lower intellectual abilities improved with quetiapine and sertraline. The patient showed no side effects.. This case report highlights the successful use of quetiapine for symptomatic treatment of acute psychosis due to PBC in an adolescent without exacerbating extrapyramidal symptoms.

Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Brain Diseases; Calcinosis; Female; Humans; Psychotic Disorders; Quetiapine Fumarate

Bipolar disorder (BD) has been linked with the manifestation of catatonia in subjects with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (IBGC) is characterized by movement disorders and various neuropsychiatric disturbances including mood disorder.. We present a patient with ASD and IBGC who developed catatonia presenting with prominent dystonic feature caused by comorbid BD, which was treated effectively with quetiapine.. In addition to considering the possibility of neurodegenerative disease, careful psychiatric interventions are important to avoid overlooking treatable catatonia associated with BD in cases of ASD presenting with both prominent dystonic features and apparent fluctuation of the mood state.

Topics: Adolescent; Autistic Disorder; Basal Ganglia; Bipolar Disorder; Brain Diseases; Calcinosis; Catatonia; Diagnosis, Differential; Dibenzothiazepines; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Quetiapine Fumarate; Tomography, X-Ray Computed