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Joseph R. Berger, MD; Andrea Bender, MD; Lionel Resnick, MD; David Perlmutter, MD

Arch Neurol. 1986;43(11):1203-1204.

Abstract
• We describe spinal myoclonus in a 35-year-old homosexual man with concurrent human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III / lymphadenopathy - associated virus (HTLV III/LAV) infection of the central nervous system as indicated by intrablood-brain barrier synthesis of HTLV III/ LAV-specific IgG. The spinal myoclonus was characterized by asymmetric, rhythmic contractions of the abdomen with a frequency ranging between 40 and 70 per minute. The myoclonus was self-limited, resolving over the course of two months. Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy - associated virus should be considered among the viral causes of spinal myoclonus.

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Neurology (Drs Berger, Bender, and Perlmutter), Internal Medicine (Dr Berger), and Dermatology and Microbiology (Dr Resnick), University of Miami School of Medicine.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 22, 1986.

Reprint requests to Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1501 NW Ninth Ave, Miami, FL 33131 (Dr Berger).