title: Clinical neurophysiologic studies in stiff-man syndrome: use of simultaneous video-electroencephalographic-surface electromyographic recording.
abstract: Three patients with a clinical diagnosis of stiff-man syndrome were studied with simultaneous video-electroencephalographic-surface electromyographic recordings in addition to routine electromyography in order to obtain objective data to confirm their diagnosis, to improve our understanding of the diagnosis of stiff-man syndrome, and to define reproducible clinical and neurophysiologic criteria for the stiff-man syndrome. These patients had the following features of this syndrome: (1) continuous muscle activity that varied with awake and sleep states, posture, passive and active movements, and medications; (2) superimposed intermittent generalized contractions while awake, which continued into drowsiness and interfered with onset of sleep; and (3) abnormal cocontractions of antagonistic muscles. The characteristic findings in the stiff-man syndrome can be recorded by using video-electroencephalographic-surface electromyographic techniques, a useful application of equipment already available in most electroencephalography laboratories. Neurophysiologic techniques can help in elucidating the clinical findings in the stiff-man syndrome. Further systematic study in patients before and during treatment is needed to identify common diagnostic criteria for this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Armon
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McEvoy
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Westmoreland
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: McManis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009127:Muscle Rigidity / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D009482:Neurophysiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013035:Spasm / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013577:Syndrome; D014743:Videotape Recording