The Big Yawning: Pathological Yawning as a Symptom of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders. (24th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spahlinger, Veronika; Niessen, Annette; Rauer, Sebastian; Krämer, Stefan; Reinhard, Matthias
• Other Names: Moonis Majaz Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Case reports in neurological medicine. Volume 2019(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-02-24
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neurology; Nervous System Diseases; Nervous system -- Diseases; Neurology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1155/2019/9691863
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-6676

Abstract

Abstract : Pathological yawning is rarely observed in cerebral or spinal diseases. A 67-year-old woman was admitted with a seven-day progressive hemisyndrome with left-sided limb ataxia and hypesthesia. The patient yawned with a high frequency, partially in salve-like episodes. MRI showed a cervical myelitis over more than three vertebral segments up to the lower medulla and Aquaporin-4-antibodies were positive (diagnostic criteria for a Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder were fulfilled). Under treatment with methylprednisolone, followed by plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption, clinical symptoms were regressive and the frequency of yawning completely normalized. When observing pathological yawning, even in the absence of other cerebral or brainstem symptoms, one should be aware of NMOSD as a possible cause.