Focal reflex myoclonus

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1974 Feb;37(2):207-17. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.37.2.207.

Abstract

In a patient with reflex myoclonus limited to the right side of the body, stimulation of the right median nerve in the index finger or wrist elicited a very large somatosensory evoked response (SER) and a long loop C reflex which represents an electrically evoked myoclonic response. It is suggested that the pathway for the C reflex is through peripheral nerve, dorsal funiculus of spinal cord, contralateral VP nucleus of thalamus, sensorimotor cortex, corticospinal tract, and anterior horn cell. The large SER, C reflex, and myoclonic jerks are presumed to result from a release effect causing increased excitability at central synapses along this pathway. The patient presented has a large atrophic vascular lesion involving the left frontotemporoparietal region and involvement of pathways through the right superior cerebellar peduncle to account for the neural dysfunction.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / complications
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Diazepam / therapeutic use
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Electroencephalography
  • Evoked Potentials
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Median Nerve / physiopathology
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Muscles / physiopathology
  • Myoclonus / drug therapy
  • Myoclonus / etiology
  • Myoclonus / physiopathology*
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Reflex*
  • Secobarbital / therapeutic use
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology
  • Thalamic Nuclei / physiopathology

Substances

  • Secobarbital
  • Diazepam