A Stiff-Person Syndrome Misdiagnosed as Parkinson Syndrome in a Patient with Cerebral Palsy - A Case Report -

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2011;13(1):44-48.
Published online June 1, 2011.

Abstract

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) or Stiff-man syndrome (SMS) is a rare disorder characterized by progressive muscle rigidity with painful spasm of axial and limb muscles causing impairment of voluntary movements which precipitated by generally non-provocative stimulations such as tactile, auditory or emotional stimulations. This symptoms might resembling chronic form of tetanus and can be misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, psychosomatic illness, or anxiety and phobia. A definitive diagnosis can be made with a serologic test that measures the level of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies in the blood and electromyographic findings. In our case, we present a cerebral palsy patient with SPS which was misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease at first impression.

Key Words: Stiff-person syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies