title: Childhood stiff-person syndrome improved with rituximab.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is manifested by fluctuating rigidity of axial musculature with painful episodic spasms due to simultaneous co-contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles. We present a case report and video illustrating response to treatment with rituximab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case description and video are provided. A literature search for other reports of treatment with rituximab was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine cases in addition to our case were described. Substantial clinical benefit was reported in 7/9 (78%) cases. Four out of 9 (44%) cases displayed persistent anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rituximab is an important treatment strategy in SPS. The persistence of anti-GAD antibody positivity even with clinical remission remains to be elucidated.
authors: Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex., USA.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Fekete
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Jankovic