Intractable myoclonic seizures in an allogeneic stem cell transplant recipient: A rare case of myoclonic epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
Myoclonus may be a rare complication of stem cell transplant but has limited discussion in the scientific literature.


METHODS
We present a case of an acute myeloid leukemia survivor who developed refractory myoclonic epilepsy four years after graft versus host disease (GVHD) developed six days following matched unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.


CONCLUSIONS
Graft versus host disease occurs in 30-50% of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients and may cause pharmacoresistant myoclonic epilepsy; however, the mechanisms by which GVHD leads to recurrent myoclonic seizures are not well understood (Lee, 2005) [1]. The paucity of clinical reports of such manifestation makes it difficult to diagnose and effectively manage these patients.
Center for Neural Engineering, Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA ; Department of Engineering, Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Anna
A
Robuccio
Center for Neural Engineering, Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA ; Department of Engineering, Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Paddy
P
Ssentongo
Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Michael D
MD
Sather
Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
David F
DF
Claxton
Center for Neural Engineering, Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA ; Department of Neurology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA ; Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Frank G
FG
Gilliam
Allogeneic transplants; Epilepsy; GVHD; Myoclonus; Seizure