Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale
Published on: July 8, 2025
Myoclonus in ataxia-telangiectasia
Pichet Termsarasab1, Amy C Yang2, Steven J Frucht1
1Movement Disorder Division, Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Background:
Various movement disorders can be found in ataxia-telangiectasia (AT), including ataxia, dystonia, chorea, and myoclonus, but myoclonus has rarely been described as the predominant feature in AT.
Case Report:
We report two AT patients with prominent myoclonus, illustrating an unusual presentation of this disorder. Sequencing of the ATM gene in the first patient revealed a homozygous truncating mutation, c.5908C>T (p.Q1970*) in exon 38 of the ATM gene, which has been previously reported as a founder mutation in the Costa Rican population.
Discussion:
Myoclonus can be a predominant or presenting feature in AT, even without dystonia.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
01:13Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
01:26Chemical Synapses
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
01:26Chemical Synapses
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
01:20Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which...
01:15Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...