Autosomal dominant cramping disease
K. Ricker and R. T. Moxley 3rd
Department of Neurology, University of Wurzburg, West Germany.
A family was studied in which four generations (16 of 41 members) suffered
from painful recurrent muscle cramping. A clear pattern of autosomal
dominant inheritance was noted. The cramping first developed during
adolescence or early adulthood. Electromyographic analysis indicated a
neurogenic origin. The cramps seemed to be due to dysfunction of the motor
neurons. The mechanisms underlying this alteration are unclear and require
further investigation.