Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society
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Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is characterized by progressive, usually symmetric rigidity of the axial muscles with superimposed painful spasms precipitated by tactile stimuli, passive stretch, volitional movement of affected or unaffected muscles, startling noises, and emotional stimuli. Electromyography demonstrates continuous normal motor unit potentials in the affected muscles. ⋯ We describe two patients with this syndrome who had GAD antibodies in both CSF and serum. Partial relief of the symptoms in these patients by corticosteroid therapy provides additional evidence of an autoimmune etiology of SPS and of the role of immunotherapy in its treatment.
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Case Reports
Focal dystonia secondary to cerebral toxoplasmosis in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
A variety of movement disorders have been reported in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cerebral toxoplasmosis. We describe a 29-year-old man with left arm and hand focal dystonia secondary to Toxoplasma abscesses in the right lenticular nucleus and thalamus. Although a few cases of dystonia have been reported in AIDS, this patient represents the first reported case of focal dystonia secondary to toxoplasmosis.