Acute ataxia, Graves' disease, and stiff person syndrome

Mov Disord. 2007 Oct 15;22(13):1969-71. doi: 10.1002/mds.21703.

Abstract

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) has been associated with autoimmune diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes mellitus and autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), among others. The association of SPS with hyperthyroidism is extremely rare. We describe a patient with uncontrolled Graves' disease and undiagnosed SPS, who presented initially with acute ataxia simulating a cerebrovascular accident. Initiation of immunosuppressive therapy dramatically improved the patient's Graves' disease within 2 weeks but the neurological symptoms were not alleviated after a follow-up period of 3 years.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antithyroid Agents / administration & dosage
  • Ataxia / diagnosis*
  • Ataxia / immunology
  • Ataxia / therapy
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Carbimazole / administration & dosage
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Comorbidity
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / immunology
  • Graves Disease / diagnosis*
  • Graves Disease / immunology
  • Graves Disease / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Plasmapheresis
  • Stiff-Person Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Stiff-Person Syndrome / immunology
  • Stiff-Person Syndrome / therapy
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Thyrotoxicosis / diagnosis
  • Thyrotoxicosis / immunology
  • Thyrotoxicosis / therapy

Substances

  • Antithyroid Agents
  • Autoantibodies
  • Carbimazole
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase