[Comparison of periodic syndrome and spasmophilia]

Two casual clinical observations here reported allow the Authors to discuss the possible relationships between periodic syndrome and spasmophilia. Particularly they stress how these common causes of recurrent symptoms (abdominal pain, headache, growing pains, anxiety, irritability) can be the same clinical entity. This suspicion is confirmed by EMG investigation: 25 children with periodic syndrome (8 males, 17 females; 8-13 years) and 10 normal subjects (6-11 years) participate in this study. Post-ischemic EMG shows signs of neuromuscular hyperexcitability as in spasmophilia in 21 children (84%) of the first group and only in 3 of the second group. Such findings should be regarded as the first step towards a better definition of the relationships between periodic syndrome and spasmophilia.