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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1973 Oct;36(5):861–863. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.36.5.861

Lhermitte's sign in subacute combined degeneration of the cord

P C Gautier-Smith 1
PMCID: PMC494476  PMID: 4753883

Abstract

Lhermitte's sign is a common early symptom of subacute combined degeneration of the cord occurring in 11 out of 44 patients admitted to the National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases during the decade 1962-71 with this diagnosis. Two patients, in both of whom it was the presenting complaint, are described in detail. It is concluded that, in these cases, Lhermitte's sign is due to stretching of demyelinated fibres in the posterior columns in the cervical cord, produced by neck flexion. The symptoms disappear after treatment with vitamin B12. The clinical importance of this symptom is emphasized.

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Selected References

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

  1. JONES A. TRANSIENT RADIATION MYELOPATHY (WITH REFERENCE TO LHERMITTE'S SIGN OF ELECTRICAL PARAESTHESIA). Br J Radiol. 1964 Oct;37:727–744. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-37-442-727. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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