title: Stiff person syndrome and pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stiff person syndrome, also known as Moersche-Woltman syndrome, is a debilitating disorder that is rarely seen in the pregnant patient. It is characterized by muscle spasms triggered by startle, voluntary movement, or tactile or emotional stimuli, occurring predominantly in the axial musculature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A woman diagnosed with stiff person syndrome became pregnant 2 months after her diagnosis. Her medication regimen was adjusted because of pregnancy, and anesthesia was initiated early in labor to control her pain. She was able to have a full-term pregnancy with few complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stiff person syndrome may be successfully managed in pregnancy. Patients can deliver vaginally with adequate pain control to avoid muscle spasms.
authors.affiliation: From St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, St. Mary's Health Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldkamp
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blaskiewicz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Myles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D013035:Spasm / Q000188:drug therapy; D016750:Stiff-Person Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D001418:Baclofen; D003975:Diazepam; D011241:Prednisone