A case of treatment resistance and complications in a patient with stiff person syndrome and cerebellar ataxia

Jones, Lliwen, Baber, Wagaar, Wardle, Mark, Robertson, Neil ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5409-4909, Morris, Huw, Church, Alistair, Llewelyn, John and Peall, Kathryn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4749-4944 2019. A case of treatment resistance and complications in a patient with stiff person syndrome and cerebellar ataxia. Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements 9 10.7916/tohm.v0.677

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Abstract

Background: Antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) are associated with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS). Case report: A 50-year-old woman presented with symptoms progressed over 9 years, resulting in a cerebellar ataxia and right upper limb tremor. Investigations revealed elevated serum and CSF anti-GAD antibody titres (98.6 and 53.4 μ/ml, respectively). Treatment included intravenous immunoglobulin and immunomodulation (infliximab and rituximab), improving her stiffness, but with no impact on the ataxia-related symptoms. Subsequent high-dose steroids led to diabetic ketoacidosis and unmasking of an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Discussion: This case illustrates several key features: (1) the combined clinical picture of SPS and cerebellar ataxia is a rare phenotype associated with anti-GAD antibodies; (2) the cerebellar ataxia described was progressive and poorly responsive to immunomodulatory therapy; and (3) the potential for development of further autoimmune sequelae in response to immunosuppression, namely, the development of insulin-dependent diabetes in response to treatment with high-dose oral steroids.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG) Medicine
Publisher:	Columbia University, Library/Information Service
ISSN:	2160-8288
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	11 October 2019
Date of Acceptance:	12 August 2019
Last Modified:	18 Aug 2023 08:48
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/125986

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