Neuroleptic-induced tardive cervical dystonia: clinical series of 20 patients.

BACKGROUND Cervical dystonia (CD) may be classified according to the underlying cause into primary or secondary CD. Previous exposure to neuroleptics is one of the main causes of adult-onset secondary dystonia. There are few reports that characterize the clinical features of primary CD and secondary neuroleptic-induced CD. Herein our aim was to investigate a series of patients with neuroleptic induced tardive CD and to describe their clinical and demographic features. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively evaluated 20 patients with neuroleptic-induced tardive CD and compared clinical, demographic and therapeutic characteristics to another 77 patients with primary CD. All patients underwent Botulinum toxin type-A therapy. RESULTS We did not identify any relevant clinical and demographic characteristics in our group of patients that could be used to distinguish tardive and primary CD. CONCLUSION Patients with tardive CD presented demographic characteristics and disease course similar to those with primary CD.