Rippling muscle disease
K. Ricker, R. T. Moxley and R. Rohkamm
Department of Neurology, University of Wurzburg, West Germany.
Six patients from two families with an autosomal dominantly inherited
disease, apparently a myopathy, are described. Their major complaint was
muscle stiffness, primarily in the legs. The muscles displayed an unusual
sensitivity to stretch, manifested by rippling waves of muscle contraction.
These rippling contractions were not accompanied by muscle fiber action
potentials. Nonspecific, mild abnormalities were seen on muscle biopsy.
These findings raise the possibility that there is an intracellular
derangement in the muscle fiber responsible for the muscle rippling;
further studies are necessary to establish the underlying pathophysiologic
condition.
