Successful Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation Treatment in a Case of Generalized Dystonia due to a Novel ANO3 Mutation

BACKGROUND: Dystonia is a ubiquitous syndrome, with a growing number of genes being continually identified. Mutations in the anoctamin-3 gene have been described to cause dystonia but the management and long-term outcomes are still largely unknown. METHODS: We present here a long term, longitudinal follow up of a patient with generalized dystonia, who was treated with bilateral pallidal deep brain stimulation and was found to harbor a mutation in the anoctamin-3 gene. RESULTS: Ongoing adjustment of stimulation settings and medications led to good and sustained dystonia control; however the patient did suffer short term relapses, manifested as dystonic crisis, which necessitated inpatient admission. CONCLUSION: This only the second patient to be reported with pallidal stimulation and an anoctamin-3 gene mutation. Long term outcomes seem to be favorable but larger case series are needed to confirm our findings.