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Generalized Dystonia in a Patient With Wilson Disease 5 Years After Liver Transplant: A Case Report Cover

Generalized Dystonia in a Patient With Wilson Disease 5 Years After Liver Transplant: A Case Report

Open Access
|Feb 2026

Figures & Tables

Table 1

Timeline of events in patient with Wilson disease.

AGEEVENT
19
  • Underwent LT due to acute liver failure in WD despite treatment with trientine and zinc

  • No reported neurologic symptoms

  • Improvement of liver function

  • Started on tacrolimus

24
  • Onset of chronic neck pain with tightness, burning, and allodynia

  • Pain radiating to fingertips, worsened by movement

  • Mild relief with ibuprofen, chiropractic adjustments, and botulinum toxin

29
  • ED visit for worsening neck pain, dystonic tremors noted

  • Workup: Normal CT, MRI, and copper studies; tacrolimus slightly low

  • Genetic testing confirmed Wilson’s disease (ATP7B mutations)

  • Treatment: Cyclobenzaprine, physical therapy, onabotulinum toxin → improvement

[i] Abbreviations: LT = liver transplant; WD = Wilson Disease; ED = emergency department.

Video 1

Neurological Examination Demonstrating Dystonia and Associated Hyperkinetic Movements.

0:00–0:20: While performing finger tapping with the arms extended, dystonic tremors and posturing of the bilateral upper extremities and neck are present. Intermittent truncal jerks are transmitted to the head and neck.

0:20–1:18: The patient exhibits limited neck rotation and tilting. With active head turning to the right, a mild “no-no” head tremor emerges, accompanied by abnormal neck posturing. Flexion and extension of the neck are full.

1:18–1:54: When writing with his right hand, there is task-induced jerky tremor of the right upper extremity with superimposed irregular, brief myoclonic-appearing movements. Simultaneously, there is a slight extension of the left thumb, and involuntary plantarflexion and inversion of the left foot are observed.

1:54–2:27: When writing with the left hand, there is a dystonic posturing of the right hand, including flexion of the first two digits, along with recurrence of left foot inversion and plantarflexion.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/tohm.1120 | Journal eISSN: 2160-8288
Language: English
Submitted on: Oct 22, 2025
|
Accepted on: Jan 29, 2026
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Published on: Feb 13, 2026
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2026 Elise Edwards, Benjamin Coleman, Matthew Feldman, Jude Hassan Charles, Danielle S. Shpiner, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.