Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
Volume 2021 (2021), Article ID 6698046, 4 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6698046

Case Report

Stiff-Person Syndrome: Seeing Past Comorbidities to Reach the Correct Diagnosis

Jared Hicken,¹ Daniel Ramirez,² Mark Rigby,¹ and Aram Minasian²

¹Base Medical Student, Ascension Genesys Hospital, Grand Blanc, Michigan, USA
²Department of Internal Medicine, Ascension Genesys Hospital, Grand Blanc, Michigan, USA

Correspondence should be addressed to Jared Hicken; jaredhicken@outlook.com

Received 5 November 2020; Accepted 21 January 2021; Published 31 January 2021

Academic Editor: Peter Berlit

Copyright © 2021 Jared Hicken et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare disorder seen in approximately one in one million people. Although it is rare, the symptoms and findings of a typical case should paint a clear clinical picture for those who are familiar with the disease. The primary findings in SPS include progressive axial muscle rigidity as well as muscle spasms. These symptoms most commonly occur in the setting of antibodies against Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD), the rate-limiting enzyme in the production of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), which is the primary inhibitory enzyme in the central nervous system. Here, we report the case of a 65-year-old African-American female with a past medical history of hypothyroidism, anxiety, and depression with psychotic features who presented with axial muscle rigidity and lactic acidosis. She had been symptomatic for several months and reported extensive workups performed at two previous hospitals without a definitive diagnosis. A complete neurological and musculoskeletal investigation yielded no positive findings except for the presence of GAD antibodies. The patient was treated with diazepam, tizanidine, and Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) with significant improvement, thus solidifying the diagnosis of SPS, a rare autoimmune and/or paraneoplastic syndrome.

1. Introduction

Stiff-person syndrome is a rare autoimmune and/or paraneoplastic syndrome with a prevalence of one in every one million people, although some studies suggest this may be an underestimation [1]. It is characterized by progressive muscle rigidity, most commonly occurring in the axial muscles, although rigidity can also occur in the extremities. In addition to rigidity, the patient will often experience intense, episodic muscle spasms that may be triggered by loud noises, bright lights, or emotional upset [2]. Patients with SPS are most often positive for antibodies against GAD, although more recent studies are finding several other antibodies associated with the disease, including antibodies against GABA type A receptor-associated protein (GABARAP), glycine receptor (GlyR), and glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2) [2–5]. While they are the most commonly seen, antibodies against GAD are not diagnostic of the disease. However, they can, along with the clinical picture, help confirm SPS [6]. Anti-GAD antibodies are occasionally absent, particularly in the case of paraneoplastic SPS, which accounts for approximately ten percent of cases. In paraneoplastic SPS, antibodies against amphiphysin are more common [7–9]. When SPS is seen as a paraneoplastic syndrome, it most commonly occurs in the setting of breast cancer or small cell lung cancer [4].

As GAD is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of GABA, it is hypothesized that the presence of GAD antibodies may lead to reduced levels of GABA in the CNS. This reduction in GABA, which is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS, would help to explain the common presentation of the disease, decreased nerve inhibition resulting in increased nerve firing, which leads to muscle rigidity and spasms. However, the degree of inhibition is independent of GAD titers, which casts doubt on the causative role of these antibodies in the pathogenesis of the disease [10].

2. Case Presentation

The patient was a 65-year-old African-American female with a medical history of recently diagnosed hypothyroidism and chronic anxiety and depression with psychotic features who presented to the emergency department with a chief complaint of “muscle spasms.” She reported these spasms had been occurring on and off for several months and they had been increasing in intensity and frequency. The patient mentioned that the spasms seemed to be triggered by loud noises and bright lights. She reported achy muscle pain all over her body. The patient stated she was recently prescribed levothyroxine. She was otherwise in her usual state of health. She reported recent visits to two nearby hospitals for this same complaint; however, no definitive cause was diagnosed. On physical exam, the patient was diaphoretic and displayed generalized weakness. Her abdominal muscles were hypertonic, but there were no peritoneal signs or masses. There were no other musculoskeletal abnormalities. Labs were drawn, and the patient was given IV lorazepam with improvement. Initial labs were significant for creatine kinase 372 IU/L (38–234 IU/L), lactate dehydrogenase 363 IU/L (98–192 IU/L), lactic acid 4.50 mmol/L (0.50–2.20 mmol/L), thyroid-stimulating hormone 12.820 ulU/ml (0.270–4.20 ulU/ml), and leukocytosis at 13.1 K/cmm (4.5–11.0 K/cmm). These lab findings prompted admission to the hospital for further workup.

Chest X-ray performed upon admission did not show evidence of any acute cardiopulmonary processes. However, she was positive for “left lower lobe subsegmental atelectasis and/or scarring.” This was considered an incidental finding. An X-ray of the abdomen showed nonobstructive bowel gas patterns. Lactic acid normalized on hospital day two, dropping to 1.83 mmol/L; however, there was no other improvement in lab values and the patient had not made significant clinical improvements. Other findings during her hospitalization included dysphagia and regurgitation when eating solids or liquids. A formal speech evaluation was performed which the patient immediately failed, prompting a gastroenterology consult for esophagogastroduodenoscopy. This evaluation revealed sluggish to absent motility of the esophagus.

On hospital day 3, GAD antibody was tested and came back at >250 IU/mL (0.0–5.0 IU/mL). This finding, along with the clinical presentation of the patient, led to a diagnosis of SPS. The patient was then started on diazepam and tizanidine. Upon making the diagnosis, our immediate concern was to rule out malignancy. Although paraneoplastic SPS is generally negative for GAD antibodies, this is not always the case [11]. CT neck/chest/abdomen/pelvis was ordered, which showed no signs of malignancy. The patient subsequently received a course of IVIG for 5 days and reported significant improvement with this treatment. The patient was admitted to inpatient rehab where she continued physical and occupational therapy. After 10 days of therapy, the patient was discharged home in stable condition.

3. Discussion

Although the patient presented with very typical symptoms for SPS, she also had a number of comorbid conditions that likely played a role in delaying diagnosis. For one, she had a significant history of anxiety and depression with psychotic features. It does not seem unreasonable to believe that her psychiatric history could have played a role in her presentation. Additionally, the patient had recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and had an elevated TSH level upon presentation to the emergency department. While her symptoms would seem extreme for hypothyroidism, low thyroid hormone levels can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, arthralgia, and myalgia. However, it is important to note that anxiety is a common result of SPS and comorbid autoimmune conditions, such as hypothyroidism, are also common [1, 2].

The differential diagnosis for this patient was quite broad. Among the other diagnoses considered were ankylosing spondylitis (AS), tetanus, and Parkinson’s disease. AS can also present with truncal stiffness, but there were no signs on imaging of sacroiliitis or spondylitis. Tetanus can present with trunk and limb spasms similar to those seen in SPS, but commonly has trismus and facial spasms, which were not seen in the patient. Parkinson’s disease was ruled out based on physical exam, where cogwheel rigidity and resting tremor were absent. Overall, the patient’s symptoms lined up quite well with the diagnostic criteria for stiff-person syndrome, as outlined by Baizabal-Carvallo et al., shown in Table 1 [7].

Table 1: Diagnostic criteria of stiff-person syndrome [7].

Diagnostic criteria of stiff-person syndrome

(i) Stiffness in the axial and limb muscles resulting in impairment of ambulation

(ii) Presence of superimposed episodic spasms that are precipitated by sudden movement, noise, or emotional upset

(iii) A positive therapeutic response to oral diazepam or findings of continuous motor-unit activity on electromyography (EMG) that are abolished by intravenous diazepam

(iv) Absence of other neurologic disorders that may explain the clinical features

Although the finding of esophageal dysmotility initially seemed unrelated to the patient’s diagnosis, further consideration of the hypothesized physiology of SPS made it reasonable to assume this finding was actually a result of the disease. Per review by Witte et al., in 150 cases of SPS that had been reported at the time of their publication, 6 had reported pharyngeal or esophageal dysphagia. Follow-up esophageal manometry revealed the first case of esophageal dysmotility that was objectively confirmed in an SPS patient [12]. This finding suggested that SPS can affect both striated and smooth muscle.

Upon diagnosis of our patient, various treatment methods were used to improve the patient’s condition. The patient was initially started on diazepam, a GABA-enhancing drug, and tizanidine, an antispastic agent. Both of these are frequently recommended as options for initial treatment, as outlined by Dalakas et al., shown in Table 2 [13]. Due to the severity of the patient’s symptoms, the decision was made to additionally initiate treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin. The patient experienced significant improvement with these therapies, though she was not completely asymptomatic afterwards.

Table 2: Most commonly used therapies for patients with stiff-person syndrome [13].

Most commonly used therapies for patients with stiff-person syndrome

Therapy
Dose per day
Presumed mechanism of action

GABA-enhancing drugs

Sedative anxiolytics

Diazepam
5–100 mg
Central GABAA agonist

Clonazepam
2.5–6 mg
Central GABAA agonist

Alprazolam
2–4 mg
Central GABAA agonist

Lorazepam
6 mg
Central GABAA agonist

Antiepileptic drugs

Vigabatrin
2–3 g
Irreversible inhibition of GABA-transaminase

Valproate
0.6–2 g
Augments GABA transmission

Gabapentin
3600 mg
Structurally related to GABA, but the mechanism of action is unknown

Levetiracetam
2000 mg
Facilitates inhibition of GABAergic transmission

Tiagabine
6 mg
Blocks GABA reuptake

Antispasticity agents

Baclofen
10–60 mg
GABAB agonist

Tizanidine
6 mg
Central α2-adrenergic action; inhibits norepinephrine release

Dantrolene
200–400 mg
Dissociates excitation-contraction coupling and blocks release of Ca⁺⁺ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum

Botulinum toxin A
—
NMJ blocking; prevents acetylcholine exocytosis

Immunotherapies

IV immunoglobulin
2 g/kg
Immunosuppression/modulation

Rituximab
2 g (in two divided doses)
B-cell depletion

Plasmapheresis
5–6 passes
Immunosuppression/modulation

Corticosteroids
Up to 60 mg
Immunosuppression/modulation

Immunosuppressive agents

Azathioprine
2.5–3 mg/kg
Immunosuppression/modulation

Methotrexate
15–20 mg
Immunosuppression/modulation

Mycophenolate
2–3 g
Immunosuppression/modulation

GABA = γ-aminobutyric acid, IV = intravenous, NMJ = neuromuscular junction

4. Conclusions

This patient presented with symptoms that were very typical for SPS; however, her comorbid conditions seemed to have previously explained some of her symptoms. This diagnosis has been historically difficult to establish and is often misdiagnosed, as stated in previous reviews [1, 2]. A high index of suspicion should be held in patients with recurrent episodes of axial rigidity and spasms, and providing awareness of this uncommon pathology may help eliminate delay of diagnosis and the waste of medical resources and provide rapid quality care to suffering patients with SPS.

Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

Consent

All attempts have been exhausted in trying to contact the patient, next of kin, and/or parent/guardian for informed consent to publish their information, but consent could not be obtained.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no financial conflicts of interest.

Authors’ Contributions

JH, DR, MR, and AM examined, assessed, and were involved in the management of this patient. All authors were involved in writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank A.T. Still University and Ascension Genesys Hospital for providing academic support and electronic research resources to them while drafting the manuscript. Funding for publication was provided by the Department of Research at Ascension Genesys Hospital.

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