[A case of Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis with transient reflex myoclonus]

Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 2017 Jul 29;57(7):395-398. doi: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.cn-001026. Epub 2017 Jul 21.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 33-year-old woman was admitted due to disturbance of consciousness, dysarthria, dysphagia, sensory disturbances and weakness of the left upper limb after mycoplasma infection. She was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone as Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE). On the 15th hospital day, reflex myoclonus appeared on her face, neck, body and limbs induced by techniques of jaw jerk reflex and patellar tendon reflex. The myoclonus was disappeared after two weeks in accordance with improvement of BBE. The transient reflex myoclonus may be originated from brainstem lesion which was affected by BBE. Reflex myoclonus is thought to be rare symptom in patient with BBE.

Keywords: Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis; anti-GQ1b antibody; mycoplasma; myoclonus; reflex myoclonus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies
  • Brain Stem*
  • Encephalitis / drug therapy
  • Encephalitis / etiology*
  • Female
  • Gangliosides / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / administration & dosage
  • Methylprednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Mycoplasma Infections / complications
  • Myoclonus / diagnosis
  • Myoclonus / etiology*
  • Myography
  • Pulse Therapy, Drug
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Gangliosides
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • GQ1b ganglioside
  • Methylprednisolone