Propriospinal myoclonus associated with gluten sensitivity in a young woman

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences Vol. 315; no. 1; pp. 141 - 142
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yan, Menkes, Daniel L, Silvers, David S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.04.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Celiac Disease - complications; Celiac Disease - diagnosis; Female; Gluten sensitivity; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Myoclonus; Myoclonus - diagnosis; Myoclonus - etiology; Neurology; Propriospinal myoclonus; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the nervous system; Young Adult; Gluten sensitivity; Myoclonus; Propriospinal myoclonus; Human; Nervous system diseases; Sensitivity; Neurological disorder; Involuntary movement
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2011.12.004

Abstract Propriospinal myoclonus (PSM) is a rare movement disorder characterized by involuntary axial jerks originating from muscles innervated by multiple spinal segments. Most cases of PSM are idiopathic. Gluten sensitivity is a multisystemic autoimmune condition which may be associated with various neurological disorders, most commonly peripheral neuropathy and cerebellar ataxia. We report a case of a young woman who developed PSM in the setting of gluten sensitivity, indicating that gluten sensitivity should be considered in the differential diagnosis of PSM such that a gluten challenge test may prove diagnostically useful.