Tics/blinking can be of viral origin

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Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997 Oct;151(10):1025-32.

Spontaneous eye blinking, a measure of dopaminergic function, in

children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Vreugdenhil H, Brouwers P, Wolters P, Bakker D, Moss H. HIV and AIDS

Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md., USA.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible alterations in dopaminergic function

in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome by evaluating

spontaneous eye blink rate, a putative measure of central dopaminergic

function. DESIGN: Evaluation of previously videotaped test sessions of a

consecutive case series of 50 children (mean age, 5.2 years; range, 2-12

years) with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. SETTING: Government medical

research center. RESULTS: Intrarater reliability was high, expected

co-variation of blink rate with age and concurrent mental activity were

confirmed, and obtained rates were similar to published data. Higher blink

rates, suggestive of increased dopaminergic function, were associated with

more severe cortical atrophy (P < .05) and white matter abnormality (P <

..05) on computed tomographic brain scans. The presence or severity of basal

ganglia calcifications did not seem to influence blink rate. In addition,

higher blink rates were associated with higher ratings of depressed affect

(P < .05) and lower ratings of hyperactive behaviors (P < .05) during other

test activities. CONCLUSIONS: The higher blink rates in human

immunodeficiency virus-infected children with more severe cortical

abnormalities suggest increased central dopamine activity compared with that

in children without cortical computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities.

Thus, as a result of structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter levels

in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome may vary and this may be

reflected in their socioemotional functioning. PMID: 9343014