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Wikipedia - Stiff person syndrome

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Stiff person syndrome (SPS) (or stiff-man syndrome outside the USA) is a rare neurologic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by progressive rigidity.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

SPS was first described by Moersch and Woltman at the Mayo Clinic in 1956.[2]

[edit] Symptoms and prognosis

Those with the illness experience progressive, fluctuating tonic muscle contractions, particularly the axial musculature. Depression and anxiety are often noted although this may be a result of discomfort due to stiffness, rather than underlying neurochemical abnormalities. MRI detection of GABA in the brain have demonstrated reduced levels in stiff-person syndrome.[3]

Prognosis is variable and there is no reliable predictor of speed and severity of disease onset. Muscle tetany may lead to muscle rupture and broken bones, or problems swallowing and breathing in severe cases.[4]

[edit] Postulated causes

Because many patients with SPS have circulating antibodies to the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD),[5] an autoimmune cause of the disease has been postulated. However, GAD antibodies cannot be the sole cause, as most Type I diabetics possess anti-GAD antibodies, yet the frequency of SPS among Type I diabetics is 1 in 10,000.[6] The GAD protein regions (epitopes) recognized by these antibodies may differ in each disease.[3] A mutation in GLRA1 (glycine receptor) is responsible for some cases of stiff person syndrome.[citation needed]

[edit] Treatment

Treatment is mostly palliative with muscle relaxants which potentiate GABA action, such as benzodiazepines. These treatments lose their effectiveness as the illness progresses.

In the absence of double-blind, placebo-controlled class A trials to determine treatment efficacy, some authorities recommend human trials of immunosuppressive therapy, plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulin infusion. A recent study funded by the NINDS demonstrated the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment in reducing stiffness and lowering sensitivity to noise, touch, and stress in people with SPS.

Monoclonal antibody rituximab has produced long-lasting remissions.[7] Clinical trials of this treatment have been completed.[8]

A clinical case was reported in April 2008 issue of the Neurology Journal. The patient's symptoms improved unexpectedly from propofol administration.[9]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ stiff man syndrome at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  2. ^ Moersch FP, Woltman HW (1956). "Progressive fluctuating muscular rigidity and spasm ("stiff-man" syndrome); report of a case and some observations in 13 other cases". Mayo Clin Proc 31 (15): 421–7. PMID 13350379. 
  3. ^ a b Hampe C, Hammerle L, Bekris L, Ortqvist E, Kockum I, Rolandsson O, Landin-Olsson M, Törn C, Persson B, Lernmark A (2000). "Recognition of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) by autoantibodies from different GAD antibody-positive phenotypes". J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85 (12): 4671–9. doi:10.1210/jc.85.12.4671. PMID 11134126. 
  4. ^ eMedicine - Stiff Person Syndrome : Article by Nancy Rodgers-Neame
  5. ^ Murinson BB (2004). "Stiff-person syndrome". Neurologist 10 (3): 131–7. doi:10.1097/01.nrl.0000126587.37087.1a. PMID 15140273. 
  6. ^ Levy L, Dalakas M, Floeter M (1999). "The stiff-person syndrome: an autoimmune disorder affecting neurotransmission of gamma-aminobutyric acid". Ann Intern Med 131 (7): 522–30. PMID 10507962. 
  7. ^ http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/76/7/999
  8. ^ http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00091897%3Cig%3E%3Cbr%3ENCT00091897
  9. ^ Hattan E, Angle MR, Chalk C (April 2008). "Unexpected benefit of propofol in stiff-person syndrome". Neurology 70 (18): 1641–2. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000284606.00074.f1. PMID 18172065. http://www.neurology.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=18172065. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Pathology of the nervous system, primarily CNS (G04–G47, 323–349)
Inflammation
Both/either
Brain/
encephalopathy
Episodic/
paroxysmal
Other
Spinal cord/
myelopathy
Both/either
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiff_person_syndrome"

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Stiff person syndrome".

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