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A Disease in Search of a Name

Christian Coërs, MD; Nicole Telerman-Toppet, MD

Arch Neurol. 1981;38(5):282-287.

Abstract
• We studied two patients with abnormal spontaneous muscular activity. The first had widespread fasciculations, painful spasms, delayed muscular relaxation, and hyperhidrosis. Improvement occurred after several years. The second case had generalized paresthesia, mild stiffness, a positive result from Trousseau's test, and was relieved by administration of carbamazepine. Both patients had abnormal conduction velocity. Examination of muscle biopsy specimens disclosed fiber type grouping and increased collateral ramification of motor axons. These observations exemplify symptoms and signs that resemble those of myotonia and tetany and occasionally occur in partial denervation. They provide additional evidence of the neurogenic nature of Isaacs-Mertens syndrome.

Author Affiliations
Jacques Durdu, Ing

From the Department of Neurology, Hôpital Brugmann, the Free University of Brussels.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Aug 16, 1980.

Reprint requests to Department of Neurology, Hôpiysl Brugmann, 4, Place Van Gehuchten, 1020 Bruxelles, Belgium.