Stiff Person Syndrome

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I have a new HH patient with Stiff Person Syndrome. It's so strange, it is very much like MS except that overnight the patient gets limber and in the morning is able to walk, shower, drive, etc...by the early afternoon around 1400 the limbs begin to stiffen and the patient is unable to walk or do much for themselves. It affects more women than men. This patient gets 1 gram solu-medrol infusions, Q 3 months just like my MS patients. After a series of infusions the patient stays limber longer into the day. I googled Stiff Person Syndrome and read that the treatment is IV Gamma Globulin x 5 days. I told the patient the next time she see her doctor to ask why solu-medrol and not the Gamma Globulin. The solu-medrol seems to work and that's what's important I just found it curious that she wasn't receiving the reccomended treatment. Anyone heard of Stiff Person Syndrome?

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I have a new HH patient with Stiff Person Syndrome. It's so strange, it is very much like MS except that overnight the patient gets limber and in the morning is able to walk, shower, drive, etc...by the early afternoon around 1400 the limbs begin to stiffen and the patient is unable to walk or do much for themselves. It affects more women than men. This patient gets 1 gram solu-medrol infusions, Q 3 months just like my MS patients. After a series of infusions the patient stays limber longer into the day. I googled Stiff Person Syndrome and read that the treatment is IV Gamma Globulin x 5 days. I told the patient the next time she see her doctor to ask why solu-medrol and not the Gamma Globulin. The solu-medrol seems to work and that's what's important I just found it curious that she wasn't receiving the reccomended treatment. Anyone heard of Stiff Person Syndrome?

Hi DutchgirlRN,

Any updates? I am late reading this post. As a student nurse I am also very curious. Is stiff person related to calcium not being utilized, (as being more like rigor mortis than MS?)

Thanks,

Gen

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

stiff-person syndrome information page: national institute of ...

emedicine - stiff person syndrome : article by nancy rodgers-neame, md

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Hi DutchgirlRN,

Any updates? I am late reading this post. As a student nurse I am also very curious. Is stiff person related to calcium not being utilized, (as being more like rigor mortis than MS?)

Thanks,

Gen

No it doesn't have anything to do with calcium. It is a neurological disorder. I checked up on this patient last week following her 5 x 1 gm solumedrol doses and she said she is doing better. Staying limber almost to bedtime now. It only lasts for several months and then she'll be ready for more infusions.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.

hello,

thanks, i see that it is auto-immune, pasting:

a definitive diagnosis can be made with a blood test that measures the level of glutamic acid decarboxylase (gad) antibodies in the blood. people with sps have elevated levels of gad, an antibody that works against an enzyme involved in the synthesis of an important neurotransmitter in the brain.

enpaste:

gen

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