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Academia Mexicana de Neurología, A.C.

2017, Number 4

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Rev Mex Neuroci 2017; 18 (4)

Stiff person syndrome. Clinical case and literature review

Cabrera EES, Enríquez CG

Language: Spanish
References: 41
Page: 86-94
PDF size: 284.35 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Introduction: Stiff-person syndrome (SPR) is a immune-mediated neurological disease characterized by axial and peripheral muscle stiffness, the presence of painful muscle spasms, as well as psychiatric disorders such as phobias and anxiety.
Case report: We present the case of a 71-year-old woman who starts with recurrent falls and feeling of stiffness in lower limbs. We requested the determination of antibodies anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD), which were reported with titres of 148.58 IU/mL (reference value: ‹10 IU/mL), and studies in search of neoplasms were negative. SPR were diagnosed and the patient was hospitalized for administration of immunoglobulin. Currently the patient still presents generalized rigidity, persistence of alternating periods of shortness of breath and muscle spasms.
Conclusions: Our case illustrates the sporadic SPR in the elderly, with a suboptimal response to treatment with immunomodulators. It is important in this age group to continue with the search of neoplasms annually, since very often the paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome precedes the presence of neoplasia in years.


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