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Abstract Details

A Case of Stiff Person Syndrome with Response to Methotrexate Therapy for Lymphoma
Autoimmune Neurology
P4 - Poster Session 4 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)
6-023
N/A
Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurologic disorder with prevalence of one to two patients per million, characterized by progressive muscle stiffness, rigidity, and spasm involving the axial muscles, resulting in impaired gait and balance. Most patients have autoantibodies against the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) enzyme. Antibodies directed against GABA(A) receptor-associated protein, and the glycine-α1 receptor also occur. The paraneoplastic form of SPS usually is associated with lung, breast or lymphoma and are usually GAD antibody negative. Treatment is mainly focused on symptomatic relief by using benzodiazepines and immunomodulators (steroids, IVIg, rituximab, mycophenolate, plasma exchange), but optimal treatments for refractory cases are unclear.

We report a 57 yo woman who initially presented in 2015 with intermittent proximal RLE stiffness and pain that progressed to become constant and bilateral.  Her gait and posture were affected with bent forward posture.  She then developed full body spasms that were associated with severe pain, triggered by stress, startle, or certain movements. Brain and full spine MRI were normal, with positive glycine receptor antibodies. The patient received IVIG with partial improvement in symptoms in 2018 and rituximab was added in 2019, but she remained impaired, requiring a standing rollator to ambulate. She developed bilateral blurry vision with floaters in 2020. Vitrectomy found ocular lymphoma and brain MRI showed enhancement typical for lymphoma. She achieved complete remission with high dose methotrexate, rituximab and consolidative transplant and her SPS symptoms markedly improved during methotrexate monotherapy to the point of ambulating without assistive devices and remained stable six months after transplant.  

 
N/A
Methotrexate may have activity in refractory SPS, and transplant may achieve durable responses and is under current study. 
Authors/Disclosures
Zeinab Birjandian, MD
PRESENTER 		Dr. Birjandian has nothing to disclose.
Jerome J. Graber, MD, MPH, FAAN (University of Washington) Dr. Graber has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Binaytara Foundation. Dr. Graber has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for 好色先生. Dr. Graber has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Dickie McCamey Attorneys at Law. Dr. Graber has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Board member with Neuro-Oncology: Practice, published by Oxford that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Graber has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Board Member with Journal of Pain and Symptom Management that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Graber has a non-compensated relationship as a Board of Directors with American Society of Neuroimaging that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Graber has a non-compensated relationship as a Board of Directors and Certification Exam Committee Member with United Council of Neurological Subspecialties that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Graber has a non-compensated relationship as a Question of the Day 'app' committee and NeuroSAE and Continuum with 好色先生 that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Graber has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Board Member with Practical Neurology (BMC) that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.