STIFF PERSON SYNDROME
- Context:
- A rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) was diagnosed in pop star, Celine Dion.
- SPS is a neurological condition that triggers uncontrollable muscle spasms & progressive stiffening of the body.
- SPS is a condition which affects something like one in a million people, affecting every aspect of daily life.
- Condition:
- SPS is an autoimmune condition of the Central Nervous system, which causes fluctuating but progressive stiffness, spasms in the back & abdomen muscles.
- The condition was first described by FP Moersch & HW Woltman in 1956.
- SPS does not cause death, but it can severely impact the quality of life & trigger complications that can lower life expectancy.
- It has been medically associated with high-stress events & is more common in women, especially in the age group of 30-60 years.
- The causes behind SPS are not fully known yet.
- There have been reports that spasms occur at any random time & can be triggered by loud noises, touch & emotional distress.
- SPS is known to affect the body posture of a person due to severe pain & stiffness in muscles in the trunk, arms & legs.
- Symptoms can also include a person having greater sensitivity to noise, touch, emotional distress.
- Paroxysmal muscle spasms are the norm & superimposed upon baseline muscle stiffness.
- The spasms may be powerful enough to break bones or dislocate joints.
- As the disease progresses muscle stiffness spreads to proximal muscles of the lower extremities & spasms become more frequent & severe.
- Solution:
- Since SPS is a rare disease with heterogeneous manifestations, the diagnosis may be delayed by an average of 6 years after the onset of symptoms.
- There is no cure for the condition & treatment focuses on the management of symptoms & pain.
- Muscle relaxers & injections of Botox are sometimes used & immunotherapy and immunosuppressants may be prescribed physiotherapy & acupuncture with heat & water therapy.
- Treatment involves the use of both symptomatic agents & immunomodulating treatment aimed at the autoimmune basis of the disease.
Source: indianexpress
