Case Report
Stiff limb syndrome: a case report
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* Corresponding author: Abderrazak Hajjioui hajjiouiabdo@yahoo.fr
1 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, El Ayachi Hospital, Mohamed V University, Coast Road Street, Sale, 11000, Morocco
2 Rheumatology, El Ayachi Hospital, Mohamed V University, Coast Road Street, Sale, 11000, Morocco
3 Neurology, Cheikh Zaid Teaching Hospital, Mohamed V University, Hay Riad Street, Rabat, 10000, Morocco
4 Internal medicine, Cheikh Zaid Teaching Hospital, Mohamed V University, Hay Riad Street, Rabat, 10000, Morocco
5 Rheumatology, El Ayachi Hospital, Mohamed V University, Coast Road Street, Rabat, 10000, Morocco
Cases Journal 2010, 3:60 doi:10.1186/1757-1626-3-60
Published: 12 February 2010Abstract
Introduction
Stiff limb syndrome is a clinical feature of the stiff person syndrome, which is a rare and disabling neurologic disorder characterized by muscle rigidity and episodic spasms that involve axial and limb musculature. It is an autoimmune disorder resulting in a malfunction of aminobutyric acid mediated inhibitory networks in the central nervous system. We describe a patient diagnosed by neurological symptoms of stiff limb syndrome with a good outcome after treatment, and a review of the related literature.
Case presentation
A 49-year-old male patient presented with a progressive stiffness and painful spasms of his both legs resulting in a difficulty of standing up and walking. The diagnosis of stiff limb syndrome was supported by the dramatically positive response to treatment using diazepam 25 mg/day and baclofen 30 mg/day.
Conclusion
This clinical case highlights the importance of a therapeutic test to confirm the diagnosis of stiff limb syndrome especially when there is a high clinical suspicion with unremarkable electromyography