Diseases » Stiff-Person Syndrome » Summary

What is Stiff-Person Syndrome?

What is Stiff-Person Syndrome?

• Stiff-Person Syndrome: A very rare progressive neurological disorder involving muscle tightness and painful muscle spasms.
• Stiff-Person Syndrome: A condition characterized by persistent spasms (SPASM) involving multiple muscles, primarily in the lower limbs and trunk. The illness tends to occur in the fourth to sixth decade of life, presenting with intermittent spasms that become continuous. Minor sensory stimuli, such as noise and light touch, precipitate severe spasms. Spasms do not occur during sleep and only rarely involve cranial muscles. Respiration may become impaired in advanced cases. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1492; Neurology 1998 Jul;51(1):85-93)
  Source - Diseases Database

Stiff-Person Syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Stiff-Person Syndrome, or a subtype of Stiff-Person Syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Stiff-Person Syndrome as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet

Stiff-Person Syndrome: Introduction

Types of Stiff-Person Syndrome:

Broader types of Stiff-Person Syndrome:

• Possibly autoimmune diseases
• more types...»

How many people get Stiff-Person Syndrome?

Prevalance of Stiff-Person Syndrome: rare

How serious is Stiff-Person Syndrome?

Complications of Stiff-Person Syndrome: see complications of Stiff-Person Syndrome
Prognosis of Stiff-Person Syndrome: There is no cure for stiff-person syndrome. The long-term prognosis for individuals with stiff-person syndrome is uncertain. Management of the disorder with drug therapy may provide significant improvements and relief of symptoms. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Stiff-Person Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

What causes Stiff-Person Syndrome?

Causes of Stiff-Person Syndrome: see causes of Stiff-Person Syndrome
Causes of Stiff-Person Syndrome: Researchers theorize that stiff-person syndrome may be an autoimmune disorder. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Stiff-Person Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)
Risk factors for Stiff-Person Syndrome: see risk factors for Stiff-Person Syndrome

What are the symptoms of Stiff-Person Syndrome?

Symptoms of Stiff-Person Syndrome: see symptoms of Stiff-Person Syndrome

Complications of Stiff-Person Syndrome: see complications of Stiff-Person Syndrome

Stiff-Person Syndrome: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Stiff-Person Syndrome.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Stiff-Person Syndrome.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Stiff-Person Syndrome: see treatments for Stiff-Person Syndrome
Research for Stiff-Person Syndrome: see research for Stiff-Person Syndrome

Organs Affected by Stiff-Person Syndrome:

Organs and body systems related to Stiff-Person Syndrome include:

• Muscles
• Nerves

Name and Aliases of Stiff-Person Syndrome

Main name of condition: Stiff-Person Syndrome

Class of Condition for Stiff-Person Syndrome: autoimmune possibly

Other names or spellings for Stiff-Person Syndrome:

Stiff-Man Syndrome, Stiff Man Syndrome, Moersch-Woltmann syndrome, Morsch-Woltman syndrome, SMS, SPS

Moersch-Woltman syndrome, Moersch-Woltmann syndrome, Stiffman syndrome Source - Diseases Database

Morsch-Woltman syndrome, SMS (Stiff man syndrome), Stiff man syndrome, Morsch-Woltman syndrome, SMS (Stiff man syndrome)
Source - Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Stiff-Person Syndrome:

• Neurologic disorder
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Type 1 diabetes
• Autoimmune disorder
• Plasmapheresis
• Immunosuppressive therapy

 » Next page: Online Medical Textbooks for Stiff-Person Syndrome

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Online Medical Textbooks for Stiff-Person Syndrome
• Prevalence and Incidence of Stiff-Person Syndrome
• Videos related to Stiff-Person Syndrome
• Prognosis of Stiff-Person Syndrome
• Causes of Stiff-Person Syndrome

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Take a survey relating to Stiff-Person Syndrome
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

homepage | back to top

Common Health Mistakes

Choose ... Alzheimers & Dementia Asthma Child ADHD ADHD in Adults Allergy Hypertension Bipolar Breast Cancer Celiac Disease Crohns Disease Colon Cancer Contraception Diabetes Cancer Depression Erectile Disorder Cholesterol COPD GERD Heartburn/Reflux Metabolic Syndrome Migraine/Headache Multiple Sclerosis Obesity Osteoporosis Overactive Bladder Psoriasis Sexual Disorder Sleep Disorders Smoking The Pill Ulcerative Colitis All Common Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Choose... Fever Rash Pain Headache Fatigue Cough Other symptoms

Search Specialists by State and City

Choose... GENERAL PRACTICE CARDIAC HEALTH WOMEN'S HEALTH CANCER CARE RADIOLOGY MENTAL HEALTH PATHOLOGY EAR, NOSE, THROAT MEDICINE GENETICS NEUROLOGY DIALYSIS CARE SURGERY ORTHOPEDICS/SPORTS MEDICINE CHILDREN'S HEALTH OTHER SPECIALTIES