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Stiff Limb Syndrome Mimicking Corticobasal Syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Stiff limb syndrome (SLS) is a focal variant of the spectrum of stiff person syndrome. Its presentation with stiffness, limb posturing, and freezing-of-gait (FOG)-like episodes, together with the relative rareness of the disorder, make it conceivable that SLS might be misdiagnosed as atypical parkinsonism, in particular, corticobasal syndrome (CBS). To illustrate this, we present two cases of established SLS resembling CBS and discuss the distinguishing features that may alert the clinician to the correct diagnosis, with its obvious therapeutic and prognostic implications.

SUBMITTER: Balint B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6183245 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Stiff Limb Syndrome Mimicking Corticobasal Syndrome.

Balint Bettina B Mahant Neil N Meinck Hans-Michael HM Fung Victor V

Movement disorders clinical practice 20141028 4

Stiff limb syndrome (SLS) is a focal variant of the spectrum of stiff person syndrome. Its presentation with stiffness, limb posturing, and freezing-of-gait (FOG)-like episodes, together with the relative rareness of the disorder, make it conceivable that SLS might be misdiagnosed as atypical parkinsonism, in particular, corticobasal syndrome (CBS). To illustrate this, we present two cases of established SLS resembling CBS and discuss the distinguishing features that may alert the clinician to t ...[more]

PMID: 30363910

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Project description:Patients with corticobasal degeneration can present with several different clinical syndromes, making ante-mortem diagnosis a challenge. Corticobasal syndrome is the clinical phenotype originally described for corticobasal degeneration, characterized by asymmetric rigidity and apraxia, cortical sensory deficits, dystonia and myoclonus. Some patients do not develop these features, but instead have clinical features consistent with the Richardson syndrome presentation of progressive supranuclear palsy, characterized by postural instability, early unexplained falls, vertical supranuclear gaze palsy, symmetric motor disability and dysphagia. The aim of this study was to identify differences in corticobasal degeneration presenting with corticobasal syndrome (n = 11) or Richardson syndrome (n = 15) with respect to demographic, clinical and neuropathological features. Corticobasal degeneration cases were also compared with patients with pathologically proven progressive supranuclear palsy with Richardson syndrome (n = 15). Cases with corticobasal degeneration, regardless of presentation, shared histopathological and tau biochemical characteristics, but they had differing densities of tau pathology in neuroanatomical regions that correlated with their clinical presentation. In particular, those with corticobasal syndrome had greater tau pathology in the primary motor and somatosensory cortices and putamen, while those with Richardson syndrome had greater tau pathology in limbic and hindbrain structures. Compared with progressive supranuclear palsy, patients with corticobasal degeneration and Richardson syndrome had less neuronal loss in the subthalamic nucleus, but more severe neuronal loss in the medial substantia nigra and greater atrophy of the anterior corpus callosum. Clinically, they had more cognitive impairment and frontal behavioural dysfunction. The results suggest that Richardson syndrome can be a clinicopathological presentation of corticobasal degeneration. Atrophy of anterior corpus callosum may be a potential neuroimaging marker to differentiate corticobasal degeneration from progressive supranuclear palsy in patients with Richardson syndrome.

Project description:ImportanceReports of pediatric-onset stiff-man syndrome (SMS) are rare. This may be an underrecognized disorder in child neurology practice.ObjectiveTo describe patients with disorders in the SMS spectrum beginning in childhood.Design, setting, and participantsThis study was a medical record review and serological evaluation conducted at child and adult neurology clinics at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Systematic review of the literature was conducted of patients who presented from 1984-2012 with onset of symptomatic SMS occurring at age 18 years or younger.Main outcomes and measuresResponse to symptomatic and immunotherapies, patient and physician reported, including modified Rankin scale.ResultsWe identified 8 patients with childhood-onset SMS, representing 5% of patients with SMS evaluated at Mayo Clinic during a period of 29 years (4 were girls). The median age at symptom onset was 11 years (range, 1-14 years). The diagnosis in 3 patients was not established until adulthood (median symptom duration at diagnosis, 14 years; range, 0-46 years). The phenotypes encountered were: classic SMS (n = 5, involving the low back and lower extremities), variant SMS (n = 2, limited to 1 limb [with dystonic posture] or back), and progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (n = 1). Initial misdiagnoses included functional movement disorder (n = 2), generalized dystonia and parkinsonism (n = 1), and hereditary spastic paraparesis (n = 1). Six patients had 1 or more coexisting autoimmune disorders: type 1 diabetes mellitus (n = 4), thyroid disease (n = 2), and vitiligo (n = 2). Serologic study results revealed glutamic acid decarboxylase 65-IgG in all cases (median value, 754 nmol/L; range, 0.06-3847 nmol/L; normal value, ≤ 0.02 nmol/L) and glycine receptor antibody in 3 cases. Improvements were noted with symptomatic therapy (diazepam, 6 of 6 patients treated, and oral baclofen, 3 of 3 treated) and immunotherapy (intravenous immune globulin, 3 of 4 treated and plasmapheresis, 3 of 4 treated). The 3 patients with glycine receptor antibody all improved with immunotherapy. At last follow-up, 4 patients had mild or no symptoms, but 4 had moderate or severe residual symptoms and required maintenance symptomatic therapy (n = 5) and immunotherapy (n = 4). Ten of 12 pediatric SMS cases identified by literature review had a severe whole-body phenotype resembling progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus.Conclusions and relevanceChildhood-onset SMS is a rare but underrecognized and treatable disorder. Serological and electrophysiological testing aid diagnosis.

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Stiff Limb Syndrome Mimicking Corticobasal Syndrome.

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Stiff Limb Syndrome Mimicking Corticobasal Syndrome.

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