Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Stiff man syndrome.

H M Meinck1

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.

CNS Drugs
|August 21, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Stiff man syndrome (SMS) is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder causing muscle stiffness and spasms. Immunomodulatory treatments, like methylprednisolone, can effectively manage symptoms in most patients.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Qualitative and quantitative evidence of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase-specific intrathecal antibody synthesis in patients with stiff person syndrome.

Journal of neuroimmunology·2010
Same author

A fast propriospinal inhibitory pathway from forelimb afferents to motoneurones of hindlimb flexor digitorum longus.

Neuroscience letters·2009
Same author

Phase-dependent transmission in the excitatory propriospinal reflex pathway from forelimb afferents to lumbar motoneurones during fictive locomotion.

Neuroscience letters·2009
Same author

[Myoclonus].

Der Nervenarzt·2007
Same author

[Hepatic encephalopathy].

Der Nervenarzt·2003
Same author

Hypoxic brain damage after intramuscular self-injection of diclofenac for acute back pain.

European journal of anaesthesiology·2001
Same journal

Impact of Omaveloxolone on Serum Lipids in Patients with Friedreich Ataxia: A 1-Year Real-World Analysis.

CNS drugs·2026
Same journal

Emerging Pharmacological Strategies for Trigeminal Neuralgia.

CNS drugs·2026
Same journal

Psychiatric Symptoms Associated with Corticosteroid Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

CNS drugs·2026
Same journal

Anti-CD20 Therapies in Pediatric Acquired Demyelinating Syndromes: Evidence Across MS, AQP4-IgG-Positive NMOSD and MOGAD.

CNS drugs·2026
Same journal

Isoform-Specific NaV Modulation in Painful Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy: Promise, Limitations, and a Clinical Agenda.

CNS drugs·2026
Same journal

Correction: Seletracetam Revisited: A Missed Opportunity for Effective Epilepsy Therapy.

CNS drugs·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

  • Stiff man syndrome (SMS) is a rare neurological disorder.
  • Characterized by progressive muscle stiffness and spasms, potentially leading to skeletal deformities.
  • Variants include stiff leg syndrome, progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM), and paraneoplastic SMS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of Stiff man syndrome (SMS).
  • To highlight the autoimmune basis of SMS and its association with other autoimmune conditions.
  • To discuss the efficacy of various immunomodulatory and symptomatic treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Stiff man syndrome (SMS).
  • Electromyography (EMG) and detection of autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnosis.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Evaluation of immunomodulatory therapies, including methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg).

    • Main Results:

    • Stiff man syndrome (SMS) is frequently misdiagnosed as psychogenic movement disorder.
    • Diagnosis is aided by EMG abnormalities and GAD autoantibodies.
    • Immunomodulation with methylprednisolone shows significant efficacy in reducing stiffness and spasms in most patients.
    • Plasmapheresis and IVIg are less frequently effective.
    • Benzodiazepines are first-line symptomatic treatment; intrathecal baclofen is a last resort.

    Conclusions:

    • Stiff man syndrome (SMS) is an autoimmune-mediated chronic encephalomyelitis.
    • Early diagnosis and immunomodulatory treatment are crucial for managing SMS.
    • Further research into the etiology and optimal treatment strategies for SMS is warranted.