Experience of joint management of patient with Huntington's chorea by neurological and dental specialists with use of tetrabenazine

Huntington's chorea is a hereditary disease causing progressive degeneration of the central nervous system with the damage to extrapyramidal structures: basal nuclei, striatum, subthalamic nucleus with increased activity of the central dopaminergic pathways, with the development of neurological, psychiatric, and emotional/personality disorders [1, 17]. The inheritance pattern of the disorder is autosomal dominance. The prevalence of Huntington's disease ranges from 3 to 17 cases per 100,000 population, averaging 5–7 cases per 100,000 population in Russia [2]. The development of the disease is associated with the expansion of CAG (cytosine-adenine-guanine) trinucleotide repeats in the frst exon of the HTT gene encoding the huntingtin protein. This expansion of trinucleotides (long sections of glutamine residues) leads to the selective loss of neurons that connect the striatum and the globus pallidus. This leads to a loss of inhibitory activity and an increase in the excitation impulse, which leads to uncontrolled movements.

Unfortunately, medical treatment does not slow down the progression of this disease (a lethal outcome occurs within 15–20 years). Improvement of the quality of life of people with Huntington's chorea, with the provision of medical services at an appropriate level, remains an urgent issue. This direction is especially relevant in providing dental care to patients with Huntington's chorea. Due to the pronounced hyperkinetic syndrome and compulsive movements in the muscles of the arms, trunk, neck and face, it is almost impossible to provide dental care for these patients. Currently, general anesthesia is used to enable dental intervention, but patients note that with frequent use of anesthesia, the patient's condition deteriorates, with an increase in hyperkinetic symptoms. Tetrabenazine is known to reduce the severity of hyperkinetic symptoms and is used in many countries [5].

However, in our country many specialists are not familiar with it. During the follow-up of a patient with Huntington's chorea, with the selection of a therapeutic dose of tetrabenazine, it was possible to provide three stages of dental care for the patient without the use of general anesthesia. The material presented in the article can provide useful information on the use of tetrabenazine in patients with Huntington's chorea.

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