Stiff person syndrome and pregnancy

Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Aug;118(2 Pt 2):454-457. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e318216196b.

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.

Case: 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.

Conclusion: Stiff person syndrome may be successfully managed in pregnancy. Patients can deliver vaginally with adequate pain control to avoid muscle spasms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amines / therapeutic use
  • Baclofen / therapeutic use
  • Cesarean Section
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Diazepam / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Gabapentin
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Muscle Relaxants, Central / therapeutic use
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Spasm / drug therapy
  • Stiff-Person Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Stiff-Person Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Amines
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
  • Muscle Relaxants, Central
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Gabapentin
  • Baclofen
  • Diazepam
  • Prednisone