title: Periodic myoclonus due to cytomegalovirus encephalitis in a patient with good syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Good syndrome (GS) refers to a constellation of thymoma and adult-onset immunodeficiency characterized by low or absent B cells, hypogammaglobulinemia, and variable defects in cell-mediated immunity with an inverted CD4/CD8(+) T-cell ratio. Patients may develop severe or chronic infections as a result of this immunodeficiency.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe a patient with GS who developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis and showed a periodic electroencephalographic pattern and myoclonus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient neurology clinic at a university medical center. Patient A 64-year-old man who developed periodic myoclonus involving the right half of his body and the left arm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five years previously, the patient had undergone resection of a pathologically confirmed epithelial thymoma. Quantitative CMV polymerase chain reaction of the serum and cerebrospinal fluid showed strongly positive results (1:10 000), allowing the diagnosis of CMV encephalitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, myoclonus and periodic electroencephalographic pattern have not previously been reported in CMV encephalitis. Opportunistic CMV infection should be considered early in the evaluation of patients with GS or a history of thymoma who develop unusual neurological symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Science, Federico II University, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. pstriano@email.it
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Striano
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tortora
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evoli
authors.forename: Giovannella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elefante
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zara
authors.forename: Philip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Tarr
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Striano
mesh_terms: D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D010507:Periodicity