Stiff limb syndrome: end of spectrum or a separate entity?
BACKGROUND
Stiff-person syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by rigidity of axial or limb muscles with episodes of co-contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles during the spasms. In some patients axial or limb involvement may predominate and may have unusual manifestations.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Tertiary care teaching hospital.


METHODS
A 42-year-old farmer presented with seasonal occurrence of hiccup and vomiting during summer months for the last 3 years. He had painful lower limb spasms lasting for 2-3 minutes every 10-15 minutes for the past 20 days. His neurological examination was normal, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 50 mm at 1st hour, and cerebrospinal fluid protein 78 mg/dL without pleocytosis. Radiograph of chest, abdominal ultrasound, and craniospinal magnetic resonance imaging were normal. The patient improved on diazepam.


CONCLUSIONS
Our patient is a forme fruste of stiff person syndrome with hiccups and vomiting due to diaphragmatic spasm.
Misra
Usha K
UK
Department of Neurology and Radiodiagnosis, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India. ukmisra@sgpgi.ac.in
Maurya
Pradeep K
PK
Kalita
Jayantee
J
Gupta
Rakesh K
RK
D000328:Adult; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006606:Hiccup / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012621:Seasons; D016750:Stiff-Person Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D003975:Diazepam