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Abstract Details

The Origin of Woltman's Sign of Myxedema
History of Neurology
P05 - (-)
256
BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of muscle stretch reflexes in myxedematous patients were mentioned in the late 19th century without formal descriptions. The first objective description of this was published by William Calvert Chaney in 1924. Neurologist Henry Woltman worked with Chaney during this time. Although first described by Chaney, the eponym "Woltman's sign of myxedema" was ultimately applied to this finding.
DESIGN/METHODS: We evaluated original publications outlining the investigation and description of reflexes in myxedema, reviewed bibliographic information about William Calvert Chaney, analyzed the research of Henry Woltman, and evaluated the practice and personnel in the Mayo Clinic Section of Neurology during his tenure.
RESULTS: Chaney served as a fellow in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic from 1919 to 1922, and then as a first assistant until leaving in 1924. He served in the Section of Neurology for 3 months during his fellowship, and worked under Woltman during that time. Chaney published the first description of the delayed relaxation phase of muscle stretch reflexes in patients with myxedema in 1924. He wrote that it had been noticed by Mayo neurologists "for a number of years" prior to publication. Other Mayo neurologists decades later wrote that Woltman suggested Chaney measure the reflex, although Woltman had no authorship, was unmentioned in the manuscript, and offered no description himself before Chaney. The eponym "Woltman's sign of myxedema" was first applied to this finding in the text "Clinical Examinations in Neurology" in 1956 at the time of Woltman's retirement.
CONCLUSIONS: Woltman's sign of myxedema serves as an homage to a colleague at retirement rather than a designation of importance regarding discovery.
Authors/Disclosures
David B. Burkholder, MD, FAAN (Mayo Clinic)
PRESENTER 		The institution of Dr. Burkholder has received research support from Longboard pharmaceuticals.
James P. Klaas, MD, FAAN An immediate family member of Dr. Klaas has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.
Neeraj Kumar, MD (Mayo Clinic, Dept of Neurology) Dr. Kumar has nothing to disclose.
Jau-Shin Lou, MD, PhD, FAAN (Sanford Health/University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health) Dr. Lou has nothing to disclose.
Christopher J. Boes, MD, FAAN (Mayo Clinic) Dr. Boes has a non-compensated relationship as a Review Committee for Neurology member with ACGME that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.
Edward Fox, MD, PhD, FAAN Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Genentech. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Biogen. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for EMD Serono. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for GW Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for TG Therapeutics. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Biogen. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Novartis. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Alexion. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biogen. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Genentech. Dr. Fox has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Bristol Myers Squibb. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from Genentech. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from Celgene - BMS. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from Chugai. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from Novartis. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from EMD-Serono. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from TG Therapeutics. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from AbbVie. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from Sanofi Genzyme. The institution of Dr. Fox has received research support from AbbVie.