Palatal myoclonus: report of two cases

We describe two cases of palatal myoclonus (PM), one essential and another secondary to a stroke. Case 1: a 64 years old female who developed clicking sounds in both ears after a stroke and three years later on noticed a progressive involuntary movement of the throat associated with rhythmic contrac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria 2000-09, Vol.58 (3B), p.901-904
Main Authors: Fabiani, G, Teive, H A, Sá, D, Kay, C K, Scola, R H, Martins, M, Werneck, L C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Clonazepam - therapeutic use
clonazepan
Electromyography
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Middle Aged
Myoclonus - diagnosis
Myoclonus - drug therapy
NEUROSCIENCES
palatal myoclonus
Palate, Soft - drug effects
PSYCHIATRY
Serotonin Receptor Agonists - therapeutic use
sumatriptan
Sumatriptan - therapeutic use
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Summary:We describe two cases of palatal myoclonus (PM), one essential and another secondary to a stroke. Case 1: a 64 years old female who developed clicking sounds in both ears after a stroke and three years later on noticed a progressive involuntary movement of the throat associated with rhythmic contractions of the soft palate, muscles of tongue and throat. MRI showed an ischemic area in brainstem. The patient had a partial response to the use of sumatriptan 6 mg subcutaneously. Case 2: a 66 years old female who began with ear clicking at left ear that worsed slowly associated with tinnitus and arrhythmic movements of soft palate and an audible click at left ear. Brain MRI was normal; audiometry showed bilateral neurosensory loss. She was prescribed clonazepan 1 mg daily with complete recovery. Primary and secondary palatal myoclonus share the same clinical features but probably have different pathophysiological underlying mechanisms.
ISSN:0004-282X
1678-4227
0004-282X
1678-4227
DOI:10.1590/S0004-282X2000000500017