Case of symptomatic propriospinal myoclonus evolving toward acute "myoclonic status"

Mov Disord. 2005 Dec;20(12):1646-50. doi: 10.1002/mds.20645.

Abstract

Propriospinal myoclonus is a rare motor disorder consisting of involuntary spinal-generated muscular jerks. Here, we report a severe and uncommon case of propriospinal myoclonus that appeared after a vertebral fracture of T11. In this patient, the polysomnographic investigation showed continuing focal myoclonic activity in axial muscles during stable sleep and an acute progression into a myoclonic "status" associated with respiratory failure and loss of consciousness. It is necessary to consider this severe progression and support it with prompt emergency maneuvers and adequate pharmacotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Clonazepam / therapeutic use
  • Disease Progression
  • Electromyography / methods
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / drug therapy
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / etiology
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / pathology
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / physiopathology*
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / physiology
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / radiation effects
  • Eye Movements / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / radiation effects
  • Neural Conduction / radiation effects
  • Spinal Fractures / complications
  • Spinal Fractures / pathology
  • Spinal Nerves / drug effects
  • Spinal Nerves / pathology
  • Spinal Nerves / physiopathology*
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Clonazepam