Myoclonus: an update

Myoclonus, a common hyperkinetic movement disorder, can be disabling for patients. It is important to identify and classify myoclonus correctly to ensure appropriate workup and treatment. While the clinical history, examination, and process of classifying myoclonus remain largely unchanged, new causes and triggers for myoclonus are being elucidated, and new genetic causes have been found. Treatment can be challenging, though preliminary data about new options has been promising.

In this article, we will briefly outline the process of classifying and treating myoclonus. We will then discuss three specific scenarios where myoclonus has been identified: myoclonus associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections, spinal myoclonus following surgery or anesthesia of the spine, and auricular myoclonus. We will also discuss new genetic findings associated with myoclonus-dystonia, and promising results regarding the use of perampanel in treating myoclonus.

The process of describing unique scenarios associated with myoclonus has helped us build our understanding of the causes, genetic background, expected prognosis, and effective treatment of specific types of myoclonus. We hope that further studies on this topic will help tailor treatment.