title: Atypical propriospinal myoclonus with possible relationship to alpha interferon therapy.
abstract: We report on a man who received interferon-alpha 2a therapy for kidney cancer and who subsequently developed propriospinal myoclonus. The myoclonus was noted at rest and during movement. The jerks were reinforced by cutaneous stimuli and tendon taps and spread to the spinal cord via polysynaptic propriospinal pathways. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis, spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalogram with back-averaging, and somatosensory-evoked potentials were normal. No antineuronal antibodies were found. Although the mechanism of interferon neurotoxicity remains unclear, the possible responsibility of interferon was considered, as no focal lesion or paraneoplastic pathology were disclosed.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie D, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Benatru
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thobois
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andre-Obadia
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gonnaud
authors.forename: Yara
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Beaugendre
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonce
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Broussolle
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014743:Videotape Recording
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha