Antiglycine receptor-related stiff limb syndrome in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. (20th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Derksen, Angelika; Stettner, Mark; Stöcker, Winfried; Seitz, Rüdiger J
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2013
• Publication Date: 2013-05-20
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2013-008667
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : We report a 61-year-old man presenting with rapidly progressive stiffness and painful muscle spasms in the lower extremity muscles. The patient was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) approximately a year before symptom onset. Electromyography displayed continuous motor unit activity and immunocytochemistry showed a positive staining for antiglycine receptor (anti-GlyR) antibodies. The clinical course was complicated by autonomic instability and cardiac arrest, but stabilised under continuous therapy with plasma exchange and symptomatic treatment with baclofen and clonazepam. Anti-GlyR antibodies induce rare, but severe, variants of stiff person syndrome that can be of paraneoplastic origin and life threatening due to autonomic dysfunction.