Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
1981-2-24
pubmed:abstractText
Startle disease is an autosomal dominant disorder with two phenotypic expressions. In the major form, there is hypertonia in infancy, and later an insecure gait. The patients have falling attacks without unconsciousness and in these, they are often injured or suffer concussions. Episodes of shaking of the limbs lasting for several minutes and resembling generalized clonus or repetitive myoclonus occur. These are most often nocturnal and are also unaccompanied by loss of consciousness. the patients are hyperreflexic and show an increased incidence of associated neurological and electroencephalographic abnormalities. The minor form of startle disease is only manifested by excessive startle and this is inconstant. In infancy it is brought out by febrile illness and in adult life by emotional stress. Gastaut and Villeneuve postulated the existence of a sporadic form of hyperekplexia different from the disorder described by Suhren et al. Review of their report and comparison with the cases of Suhren et al, and our own patients leads us to believe that the sporadic and familial forms of startle disease are the same. The disorder is rare, probably misdiagnosed initially as spastic quadriplegia, and later as epilepsy. Clonazepam appears to be the treatment of choice and its effect is sustained.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0006-8950
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
103
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
985-97
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1980
pubmed:articleTitle
Startle disease or hyperekplexia: further delineation of the syndrome.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Case Reports