Gabapentin for familial paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis

We present a 4-year-old girl with stereotyped episodes of inability to speak and dystonic posturing of the face and extremities lasting 20 minutes. An older brother and mother had similar spells in childhood. Routine and video-EEG during events were normal. The diagnosis was non-kinesigenic paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis since the episodes were not exacerbated by movement. Gabapentin 10 mg/kg/d eliminated most attacks.