A case report and a brief literature review of belly dancer’s dyskinesia in a pregnant patient

Abstract

Belly dancer’s dyskinesia is a rare movement disorder that can be classified under hyperkinetic movement disorders. It is characterized by rhythmic or semi-rhythmic contractions of the diaphragm and other abdominal muscles that are brief and involuntary that cannot be voluntarily suppressed but could be influenced by respiratory maneuvers. Belly dancer’s dyskinesia in pregnancy even rarer, there have only been five reported cases. Here, we reported 19-year-old Ethiopian pregnant women who presented with oscillating movements of the abdomen that occurred at her ninth month of pregnancy. The general medical and neurological examinations were unremarkable. Complete blood count, basic metabolic panels, and biochemistry tests were all within the normal range. The patient responded to the trial of valproate with complete resolution of the abdominal dyskinesia after delivery.