Familial hemifacial spasm

Arch Ophthalmol. 1990 Feb;108(2):249-50. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1990.01070040101040.

Abstract

Three male patients in successive generations of the same family developed acquired left-sided hemifacial spasm. Magnetic resonance imaging of the proband demonstrated a pontine vertebral artery anomaly near the root of the affected facial nerve. This family and a similar family that was recently presented illustrate several interesting features: (1) hemifacial spasm, from whatever cause, may be autosomal dominant; (2) the spasms involve the same side of the face in affected individuals within an affected family; and (3) the age of onset in familial cases may be younger than in nonfamilial cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Facial Muscles*
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pedigree
  • Spasm / genetics*