Syndrome of continuous muscle fiber activity. Case report with 11-year follow-up

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 52; no. 1; pp. 96 - 99
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, J T, Levy-Reis, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01.03.1994; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO)
• Subjects: Adolescent; atividade de fibra muscular contínua; Electromyography; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Motor Activity - physiology; Muscle Rigidity - diagnosis; Muscle Rigidity - drug therapy; Muscle Rigidity - physiopathology; Muscles - drug effects; Muscles - physiopathology; NEUROSCIENCES; Phenytoin - therapeutic use; PSYCHIATRY; rigidez muscular; Stiff-Person Syndrome - diagnosis; Stiff-Person Syndrome - drug therapy; Stiff-Person Syndrome - physiopathology; síndrome de Isaacs; Voice Disorders - drug therapy; Voice Disorders - etiology; Voice Disorders - physiopathology; rigidez muscular; síndrome de Isaacs; continuous muscle fiber activity; atividade de fibra muscular contínua; muscle stiffness; Isaacs' syndrome
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/s0004-282x1994000100019

A 16-year-old male patient who presented with muscle stiffness and dysphonia is described. Electromyography revealed continuous motor activity that was unaffected by peripheral nerve block or general anaesthesia, but was abolished by curare. The patient had a marked improvement after using phenytoin. The follow-up 11-years later corroborates with the proposed benignity of this syndrome, in spite of being dependent on medication.