Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1978 May;41(5):458–462. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.41.5.458

Stiff-man syndrome associated with nocturnal myoclonus and epilepsy.

P Martinelli, P Pazzaglia, P Montagna, G Coccagna, N Rizzuto, S Simonati, E Lugaresi
PMCID: PMC493055  PMID: 660210

Abstract

A case of stiff-man syndrome associated with primary generalised epilepsy is reported. In addition, nocturnal polygraphic recording revealed a nocturnal myoclonus. Detailed examination of the central nervous system did not show specific changes. There is no direct proof as to a spinal or supraspinal origin of the stiff-man syndrome. The absence of specific anatomical lesions may indicate a functional rather than a structural disturbance in its physiopathogenesis.

Full text

PDF
458

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ASHER R. A woman with the stiff-man syndrome. Br Med J. 1958 Feb 1;1(5065):265–266. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5065.265. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Berti Ceroni G., Lugaresi E., Ambrosetto C. Sindrome tetanica cronica ("stiff-man" syndrome di Moersch e Woltman). Rassegna critica e prsentazione di un caso personale. Riv Sper Freniatr Med Leg Alien Ment. 1967 Jun 30;91(3):489–633. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cobb J. Stiff man syndrome: is the lesion at spinal cord or brain stem level. Proc R Soc Med. 1974 Oct;67(10):1065–1066. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cohen L. Stiff-man syndrome. Two patients treated with diazepam. JAMA. 1966 Jan 17;195(3):222–224. doi: 10.1001/jama.195.3.222. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. De Gail P., Lance J. W., Neilson P. D. Differential effects on tonic and phasic reflex mechanisms produced by vibration of muscles in man. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1966 Feb;29(1):1–11. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.29.1.1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Delwaide P. J. Le stimulus vibratoire en neurophysiologie clinique : aspects physiologiques et physiopathologiques. Rev Electroencephalogr Neurophysiol Clin. 1974 Oct-Dec;4(4):539–553. doi: 10.1016/s0370-4475(74)80042-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Delwaide P. J., Schwab R. S., Young R. R. Polysynaptic spinal reflexes in Parkinson's disease. Neurology. 1974 Sep;24(9):820–827. doi: 10.1212/wnl.24.9.820. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Godin Y., Heiner L., Mark J., Mandel P. Effects of DI-n-propylacetate, and anticonvulsive compound, on GABA metabolism. J Neurochem. 1969 Jun;16(3):869–873. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1969.tb08975.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gordon E. E., Januszko D. M., Kaufman L. A critical survey of stiff-man syndrome. Am J Med. 1967 Apr;42(4):582–599. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(67)90057-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Guilleminault C., Sigwald J., Castaigne P. Sleep studies and therepeutic trial with L-dopa in a case of Stiffman syndrome. Eur Neurol. 1973;10(2):89–96. doi: 10.1159/000114266. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HOWARD F. M., Jr A new and effective drug in the treatment of the stiff-man syndrome: preliminary report. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin. 1963 May 22;38:203–212. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. MOERSCH F. P., WOLTMAN H. W. Progressive fluctuating muscular rigidity and spasm ("stiff-man" syndrome); report of a case and some observations in 13 other cases. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin. 1956 Jul 25;31(15):421–427. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Mertens H. G., Ricker K. Ubererregbarkeit der gamma-Motoneurone beim "Stiff-man" Syndrom. Klin Wochenschr. 1968 Jan 1;46(1):33–42. doi: 10.1007/BF01725298. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Rondot P. Etude clinique et physiopathologique des contractures. Rev Neurol (Paris) 1968 May;118(5):321–342. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. SYMONDS C. P. Nocturnal myoclonus. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1953 Aug;16(3):166–171. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.16.3.166. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Schmidt R. T., Stahl S. M., Spehlmann R. A pharmacologic study of the stiff-man syndrome. Correlation of clinical symptoms with urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenyl glycol excretion. Neurology. 1975 Jul;25(7):622–626. doi: 10.1212/wnl.25.7.622. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Sigwald J., Guilleminault C. Syndromes de contracture permanente (syndrome de l'homme raide de Moersch et Woltman; syndrome d'activité continue des fibres musculaires d'Isaacs; autres contractures permanentes.) Essai de classification et d'interprétation pathogénique. Discussion du rôle des interneurones et de l'épanoissement terminal du motoneurone. Rev Neurol (Paris) 1971 Mar;124(3):191–212. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Simler S., Ciesielski L., Maitre M., Randrianarisoa H., Mandel P. Effect of sodium n-dipropylacetate on audiogenic seizures and brain -aminobutyric acid level. Biochem Pharmacol. 1973 Jul 15;22(14):1701–1708. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(73)90383-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. TRETHOWAN W. H., ALLSOP J. L., TURNER B. The "stiff-man" syndrome. A report of two further cases. Arch Neurol. 1960 Oct;3:448–456. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1960.00450040098012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES