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Opsoclonus myoclonus

Jonathan R Scarff1, Bushra Iftikhar, Aniket Tatugade

  • 1University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience
|January 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Opsoclonus myoclonus, a rare autoimmune disorder causing cerebellar degeneration, is often linked to cancer. Treatment involves addressing the cause and using anti-inflammatory therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Opsoclonus myoclonus is a rare autoimmune disorder.
  • It is characterized by cerebellar degeneration and often presents as a paraneoplastic syndrome.
  • Commonly known as "dancing eyes, dancing feet syndrome," it involves rapid, involuntary eye movements and ataxia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the key features of opsoclonus myoclonus.
  • To discuss its various etiologies, including paraneoplastic, infectious, metabolic, and idiopathic causes.
  • To outline current treatment strategies and prognostic factors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of opsoclonus myoclonus cases.
  • Analysis of clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and treatment outcomes.
  • Focus on pediatric (neuroblastoma-associated) and adult cases.

Main Results:

  • Half of opsoclonus myoclonus cases occur in children with neuroblastoma.
  • Adult etiologies are diverse, including neoplastic, infectious, metabolic, or idiopathic.
  • Antibody-mediated neuronal damage is a key pathogenic mechanism.

Conclusions:

  • Treatment requires addressing the underlying etiology and implementing anti-inflammatory therapies.
  • Children with neuroblastoma-associated opsoclonus myoclonus may have long-term neurological deficits.
  • Adults with idiopathic or infectious causes generally have a better prognosis than those with neoplastic origins.
Keywords:
Opsoclonus myoclonusautoimmunecerebellar signscerebellar toxicitydancing eyesdancing feet syndromeopsoclonusparaneoplastic

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