Stiff-Person Syndrome

Introduction: Stiff-Person Syndrome

A very rare autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system causing various symptoms, but also sometimes diabetes. The patient usually has anti-GAD antibodies, and about half get a type of secondary diabetes from SMS.

Symptoms of Stiff-Person Syndrome

• Constant painful contractions
• Muscle spasms - esp. back and upper legs but sometimes the arms and neck.
• Worsening with anxiety
• Worsening with sudden motion
• Worsening with sudden noise

See full list of 22 symptoms of Stiff-Person Syndrome

Medical Textbooks Online about Stiff-Person Syndrome

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Causes of Stiff-Person Syndrome

Read more about causes of Stiff-Person Syndrome.

Treatments for Stiff-Person Syndrome

• Diazepam
• Baclofen
• Phenytoin
• Clonidine
• Tizanidine

See full list of 7 treatments for Stiff-Person Syndrome

Videos for Stiff-Person Syndrome

Patient Surveys for Stiff-Person Syndrome

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Stiff-Person Syndrome
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Prognosis for Stiff-Person Syndrome

Prognosis for 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)

More about prognosis of Stiff-Person Syndrome

Reseach about Stiff-Person Syndrome

Visit our research pages for current research about Stiff-Person Syndrome treatments.

Clinical Trials for Stiff-Person Syndrome

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Stiff-Person Syndrome include:

• Cause, Development, and Progression of Stiff-Person Syndrome - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Rituximab to Treat Stiff Person Syndrome - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Rituximab
• Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) for the Treatment of Stiff-Man Syndrome (SMS) - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

Read more about Clinical Trials for Stiff-Person Syndrome

Statistics for Stiff-Person Syndrome

• Medical statistics for Stiff-Person Syndrome
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Stiff-Person Syndrome
• Death and Mortality statistics for Stiff-Person Syndrome
• Society statistics for Stiff-Person Syndrome

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Stiff-Person Syndrome, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Stiff-Person Syndrome

Stiff-person syndrome is a rare progressive neurological disorder characterized by constant painful contractions and spasms of voluntary muscles, particularly the muscles of the back and upper legs. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Stiff-Person Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of 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