How do you diagnose stiff person syndrome?

A definitive diagnosis can be made with a blood test that measures the level of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies in the blood. People with SPS have elevated levels of GAD, an antibody that works against an enzyme involved in the synthesis of an important neurotransmitter in the brain.

What mimics stiff person syndrome?

Both isolated axial dystonia and stiff person syndrome (SPS) are rare conditions that can look as similar as to pose difficulties even to movement disorder experts familiar with both conditions.

Is Stiff person syndrome neurological?

Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is an autoimmune and neurological disorder with no known cause that can make the muscles in the torso and limbs alternate between rigidity and spasms.

Is Stiff person syndrome the same as stiff man syndrome?

Stiff person syndrome, also called Moersch-Woltman syndrome and formerly stiff man syndrome, can also cause painful muscle spasms. The muscle spasms occur randomly or can be triggered by noise, emotional distress and light physical touch. Over time, stiff person syndrome can lead to an altered posture.

Can stiff person syndrome be misdiagnosed?

SPS is frequently misdiagnosed as axial dystonia or psychogenic movement disorder. We report a patient with SPS in order to emphasise the reasons for this common misdiagnosis.

Does stiff person syndrome affect speech?

The loss of voice may have been due to spasms in the neck, from the underlying SPS, which were intermittent or subtle enough to go unnoticed. It was only years later, with the onset of sustained muscle contractions of the neck and lower back and the hyperlordosis, that SPS was suspected to be involved.

Does stiff person syndrome affect the brain?

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare, progressive syndrome that affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms may include extreme muscle stiffness, rigidity and painful spasms in the trunk and limbs, severely impairing mobility.