Fasciculation-cramp syndrome preceding anterior horn cell disease: an intermediate syndrome?
Cramp-fasciculation syndrome (cramp-FS) is an ill-defined condition with uncertain clinical limits. The authors studied a 55-year-old man with progressively more severe, widespread fasciculations and cramps during a 6-year-period. Mild progressive lower motor neuron loss, shown by motor unit number and multi-motor unit potential (MUP) analysis, developed during the 4 years after onset, which stabilised during a further 2-year follow-up. Cramp-FS is generally a benign syndrome, probably with several causations. Our patient developed a limited form of anterior horn cell degeneration perhaps representing a syndrome transitional with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cramp-FS merits more detailed study.
de Carvalho
Mamede
M
Department of Neurosciences and Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. mamedemg@mail.telepac.pt
Swash
Michael
M
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D018450:Disease Progression; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013577:Syndrome