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Hemifacial spasm and posterior auricular muscle.

We aimed to investigate to which extent posterior auricular muscle (PAM) was affected and whether it contributed to the reflex activity in hemifacial spasm (HFS) patients. 19 HFS patients' spasm activities were recorded from facial muscles. Spasm activity of PAM was recorded synchronously on the symptomatic side in all patients. Lateral spread of blink reflex to orbicularis oris and PAMs were recorded in all but two patients. Botulinum toxin was applied to the PAM with the 14 patients presenting tinnitus, "clicking" or a "ticking" sound on the sane side and other positive auricular symptoms. After treatment, there was symptomatic improvement in 9 of 14 patients. The patients presenting with auricular symptoms and showing spasm activity in their PAMs can be thought as a candidate for botulinum toxin treatment scheme.

Adult↗

Hemifacial spasm: importance of a complete investigation.

The authors report the experience of the Clinique d'O.R.L. de l'Université de Bordeaux II in the management of hemifacial spasm. The recent diagnostic and therapeutic progress in otoneurology has revealed an organic etiology for many cases of hemifacial spasm. The recent diagnostic and therapeutic progress in otoneurology has revealed an organic etiology for many cases of hemifacial spasm. From their experience, they propose a complete investigation for all cases of hemifacial spasm. The disorder is labelled as being idiopathic only if the complete investigation is negative.

Adult↗

Hemifacial spasm: MR imaging features.

MR imaging was used to evaluate the relationship of the root exit zone of the seventh cranial nerve to surrounding vascular structures in 13 patients with clinically documented hemifacial spasm and in 70 asymptomatic patients. MR imaging clearly demonstrated the course of the seventh nerve from the root exit zone of the brainstem to the internal auditory canal and its relationship to the surrounding vertebrobasilar system. The presence of a vascular structure at the root exit zone of the seventh nerve was identified in all 13 patients with hemifacial spasm. In the 70 asymptomatic patients, examination of 140 seventh nerves revealed that 21% had contact by a vascular structure at the root exit zone of the seventh nerve. Our results indicate that although neurovascular contact may be asymptomatic, MR demonstration of a vascular structure at the root exit zone of the seventh cranial nerve in a patient with hemifacial spasm may implicate neurovascular compression as the cause of symptomatology. This finding may alter therapeutic management. Because of the inherent limitations of CT in the visualization of posterior fossa structures, MR imaging should be considered the initial screening procedure in the assessment of patients with hemifacial spasm.

Adult↗

Occult pontine glioma in a patient with hemifacial spasm.

Hemifacial spasm due to an intracranial mass lesion is rare. We describe a 29-year-old man with hemifacial spasm successfully treated with botulinum A toxin injections for 2 years. The development of acquired diplopia secondary to acquired sixth cranial nerve palsy prompted investigation. Computed tomography done at the time of original diagnosis and on three other occasions (concentrating on the brain stem and cerebellopontine angle) failed to demonstrate an intracranial mass lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a large mass lesion in the pons presumed to be a glioma. Patients with hemifacial spasm who have atypical features, especially those with associated neurologic findings, should be screened for tumours. Our case illustrates the superiority of MRI in demonstrating pontine gliomas causing hemifacial spasm.

Adult↗

Cyclobenzaprine and naproxen versus naproxen alone in the treatment of acute low back pain and muscle spasm.

Two groups of 20 patients each, with mild to moderate acute low back pain with associated muscle spasm of ten days' duration or less, were treated with a combination of cyclobenzaprine and naproxen or naproxen alone in a randomized, 14-day open-label trial. Cyclobenzaprine was added to the naproxen regimen as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for relief of muscle spasm associated with acute, painful, musculoskeletal conditions. The clinical characteristics of each study group, including the number of worker's compensation patients, were comparable. Combination therapy was associated with less objective muscle spasm and tenderness and greater motion of the lumbosacral spine (P less than 0.05). There were trends toward faster resolution of functional deficits and pain with combined therapy. Combination therapy was associated with more side effects, due primarily to drowsiness from the cyclobenzaprine. The results of this study demonstrated that patients with muscle spasm associated with acute low back strain benefited from the use of combination therapy consisting of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent (naproxen) and a muscle relaxant (cyclobenzaprine).

Adult↗

Spasm of the near reflex mimicking myasthenia gravis.

Spasm of the near reflex and myasthenia gravis both may present as isolated abduction deficits, either unilaterally or bilaterally. Although they each have been mistaken for other more serious causes of neurologic dysfunction, convergence spasm has not been reported previously as mimicking myasthenia gravis. Two cases of convergence spasm were diagnosed initially as myasthenia gravis with positive Tensilon tests. The cases emphasize the need to consider convergence spasm in the diagnosis of any patient with isolated abduction deficits, as well as to suggest that double-blinded Tensilon tests may be unnecessary and possibly misleading.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Cranial dystonia, blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm: clinical features and treatment, including the use of botulinum toxin.

Blepharospasm, the most frequent feature of cranial dystonia, and hemifacial spasm are two involuntary movement disorders that affect facial muscles. The cause of blepharospasm and other forms of cranial dystonia is not known. Hemifacial spasm is usually due to compression of the seventh cranial nerve at its exit from the brain stem. Cranial dystonia may result in severe disability. Hemifacial spasm tends to be much less disabling but may cause considerable distress and embarrassment. Patients affected with these disorders are often mistakenly considered to have psychiatric problems. Although the two disorders are quite distinct pathophysiologically, therapy with botulinum toxin has proven very effective in both. We review the clinical features, proposed pathophysiologic features, differential diagnosis and treatment, including the use of botulinum toxin, of cranial dystonia and hemifacial spasm.

Adult↗

Long-lasting organic spasm of the near reflex.

A 57-year-old man was examined after head trauma and found to have long-lasting organic spasm of the near reflex lacking accommodative spasm. Convergence and miosis had been consistently observed for the follow-up period of one year and three months. Electrooculographical findings showed that there was no lateral rectus muscle palsy in either eye, and that his esotropia became intense in total darkness, compared with fixation on a visual target. Persistent convergence and miosis completely disappeared within 7 minutes after intravenous injections of benzodiazepine. Furthermore, he was able to make a normal near reflex when the spasm disappeared. The effect of benzodiazepine suggests that the disturbance of the GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acid) inhibitory system in the near reflex may be responsible for the occurrence of the spasm.

Benzodiazepines↗

Accommodative spasm: a study of 17 cases.

Accommodative spasm (AS) is rarely reported in the literature. We studied 17 patients with accommodative spasm. Most patients were clinically emmetropic. Ten patients also manifested a spasm of the near reflex (SNR). The probable etiology of the accommodative disorder for most patients was psychogenic as revealed by case histories and visual field analysis. Treatment consisted primarily of plus reading lenses and, in some instances, orthoptic training. Some patients also underwent psychological counseling. Follow-up ranged from 2 months to 30 months. Although visual symptoms improved for most patients, only four patients had complete resolution of the spasm.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

[Esophageal spasm: a common cause of spontaneous precordial pain].

Fifty-eight consecutive patients were investigated for spontaneous chest pain without symptoms of effort angina, previous myocardial infarction or other signs of cardiac disease, to determine the incidence of oesophageal spasm. The character of the chest pain, its context and the results of resting ECGs were analysed. An ECG recorded during chest pain was available in 23 cases and exercise stress testing was performed in 43 cases. Coronary angiography was carried out in all patients. The coronary arteries were normal or showed little change in 44 patients. Further investigations were ordered: oesophageal manometry (42 cases), echocardiography 44 cases) and ergometrine provocation tests (44 cases). The patients were then divided into 4 groups: 23 patients (40 p. 100) with coronary artery disease; either atheroma (14 cases) or spasm (9 cases); 8 patients (13,5 p. 100) with non-coronary cardiac pathology (myocardial hypertrophy or mitral valve prolapse); 15 patients (26 p. 100) with oesophageal spasm alone; 12 patients (20,5 p. 100) with no obvious organic disease. Often simulating spontaneous angina, clinically and electrocardiographically, oesophageal spasm may sometimes be distinguished (6 out of 15 cases) by the finding of painful dysphagia on swallowing ice-cold liquid. The condition is confirmed by oesophageal manometry which shows abnormalities of oesophageal contraction. In addition, 13 out of 15 patients in our series had hypotonia of the gastro-oesophageal sphincter. Dyskinetic phenomena and this hypotonia should be taken into consideration in the treatment of this condition.

Adult↗

[Spasm of the renal and digestive arteries. Radiologic aspect].

Spasms of the mesenteric and renal arteries are of great concern to the radiologist specialized in angiography. In most cases, they appear to be of iatrogenic origin, due to difficulties in selective catheterization and especially in superselective catheterization of the mesenteric and renal arteries. In this case, spasm may be a most unwelcome side-effect. In other less frequent cases, spasms appear as indirect signs of an underlying spasmogenic disease, such as G. I. tract carcinoid, pheochromocytoma, pancreatitis or poisoning such as ergotism or digitalis overdosage. Most of all, it may occur during some non-occlusive intestinal ischemias. On the other hand, spasm can be considered as a way of treatment, especially in cases of G. I. bleeding, particularly due to ulcerations.

Arteries↗

Hemifacial spasm: electrophysiological findings and the therapeutic effect of facial nerve block.

Twenty patients with cryptogenic hemifacial spasm have been examined electrophysiologically and treated with blockade of the facial nerve with phenol injections after localization of the nerve by electrical stimulation. The electrophysiological findings suggested a central origin of the spasms. The phenol injections abolished the spasms, but they recurred in most patients after 6 to 12 months. A few patients appeared to get permanent relief after one or more phenol injections. We used phenol blockade of the facial nerve as our first therapeutic treatment of choice in patients with distressing hemifacial spasm because it is a safe, simple, and repeatable procedure.

Adult↗

[The clinical usefulness of botulinum toxin type A for spasmodic torticollis and facial spasm].

We studied the clinical effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A for spasmodic torticollis and that for facial spasm by multicenter, non-blinded study. The freeze-dried crystalline botulinum toxin type A (AGN 191622; Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA) was injected into the hyperactive muscles and the clinical course was followed for 22 weeks. Repeated injections were done, if necessary, with an interval of 4 weeks. The toxin was highly effective in both disorders. In spasmodic torticollis, clinical severity improved in 38 (63.3%) and the global improvement was seen in 39 (65.0%) out of 60 patients. Subjective improvement was seen in 56 (93.3%). In facial spasm, 52 (92.9%) out of 56 patients improved after the treatment. Unfavorable reactions, mainly consisting of neck muscle weakness and dysphagia in torticollis and facial weakness in facial spasm, were mostly due to the excessive action of the toxin. They were usually mild and transient. No patients discontinued the trial because of side effects. Botulinum toxin injection is a very useful and safe method for the symptomatic treatment of spasmodic torticollis and facial spasm.

Adolescent↗

[The clinico-angiographic manifestations of vascular spasm in the acute period of an aneurysm rupture].

The clinical picture was compared to angiographic findings on the spasm in 85 patients in acute period of an aneurysmal rupture in the absence of the intracranial hematoma. Spasm-induced ischemia was responsible for cerebral dysfunction and neurological symptoms. Days 5-13 since the aneurysmal rupture can be viewed as a functionally significant spasm interval. To prevent repeat hemorrhages and brain ischemia, aneurysmal intervention should be conducted on early hours and days of the disease, before or during a less severe vascular spasm.

Acute Disease↗

The use of botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of facial spasm.

We describe our experience with the use of botulinum A toxin for the treatment of patients with facial spasms. Thirty four patients with blepharospasm, thirty eight with hemifacial spasms and three with spastic entropion were injected with the use of Botulinum A toxin. Length of follow up ranged from 6 to 60 months. The effect of toxin lasted an average of 12.1 weeks in patients with blepharospasm and 15.5 weeks in patients with hemifacial spasms. This difference in mean response was statistically significant (p = 0.0001). The most common side effect was ptosis and dry eyes. All side effects were transient in nature, lasting between three and twelve weeks. Botulinum toxin type A injections represent a good alternative for the treatment of facial spasms. It is a safe and effective office procedure. Most patients tolerate the procedure well. Its principal drawback is its transient effect and the need for repeated injections.

Adolescent↗

[Infantile spasms with localized cerebral lesion detected by 99mTcHMPAO-SPECT].

We experienced a 6-month-old girl with infantile spasms who had localized cerebral lesion detected by 99mTcHMPAO-SPECT. She was born vaginally after a full term uncomplicated delivery with a birth weight of 3,100 g. She developed emprosthotonic spasms with series formation and EEG showed asymmetric periodic hypsarrhythmia which was predominant in the right hemisphere. While MRI could not detected any focal lesion, 99mTcHMPAO-SPECT disclosed hypoperfusion at the right anterior temporal and frontal areas. Although vitamin B6, clonazepam and sodium valproate were administered with no remarkable benefit, the treatment with ACTH-Z or carbamazepine resulted in cessation of spasms and improvement of the EEG findings. Consequently, the study with 99mTcHMPAO-SPECT was useful to clarify the pathology of infantile spasms, and we concluded that a patient with localized cerebral lesions should be given carbamazepine.

Brain↗

[Chest pain of esophageal origin in patients with a normal coronary angiogram and ergonovine-induced coronary spasm].

In order to differentiate the cardiac or oesophageal origin of chest pain, 55 patients with chest pain, normal coronary arteriogram and normal left ventricular function, were studied. Patients were evaluated with ergonovine test to induce coronary artery spasm and oesophageal function study (including basal manometry in all cases, ClH acid instillation in 53, manometry during ClH instillation in 32 and edrophonium test in 9). There was coronary artery spasm following ergonovine test in 8 patients (group 1) and negative results in 47 (group 2). There was oesophageal disfunction in 50% patients in group 1 and in 62% patients in group 2 (p = NS). The incidence of motor disorders or chest pain following acid instillation was not significatively different in both groups. Nevertheless, in group 1 a tendency to a greater incidence of oesophageal spasm was observed while in group 2 unspecified disorders were more frequent. Thus, in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteriogram, we always must discard coronary artery spasm and oesophageal disfunction, because, due to a probably common cause, association between both disorders is frequent.

Adult↗

High-dose corticotropin (ACTH) versus prednisone for infantile spasms: a prospective, randomized, blinded study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of corticotropin (ACTH) (150 U/m2/day) and prednosone (2 mg/kg/day) given for 2 weeks, in suppressing clinical spasms and hypsarrhythmic electroencephalogram (EEG) in infantile spasms (IS). AACTH and prednisone are standard treatments for IS. ACTH at high doses causes severe dose- and duration-dependent side effects, but may be superior to prednisone, based on retrospective or uncontrolled studies. Blinded prospecive studies have shown equal efficacy of prednisone and low-dose ACTH, and low versus high-dose ACTH. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, single-blinded study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patient population consisted of consecutive infants fulfilling entry criteria, including the presence of clinical spasms, hypsarrhythmia (or variants) during a full sleep cycle video-EEG, and no prior steroid/ACTH treatment. Response required both cessation of spasms and elimination of hypsarrhythmia by the end of the 2-week treatment period, as determined by an investigator "blinded" to treatment. Treatment of responders was tapered off over 12 days; those failing one hormone were crossed-over to the other. RESULTS: OF 34 eligible infants, 29 were enrolled. Median age of patients was 6 months. Twenty-two infants were "symptomatic" with known or suspected cause, and seven were cryptogenic (two normal). Of 15 infants randomized to ACTH, 13 responded by EEG and clinical criteria (86.6%); Seizures stopped in an additional infant, but EEG remained hypsarrhythmic (considered a failure). Four of the 14 patients given prednisone responded (28.6%,, with complete clinical-EEG correlation), significantly less than with ACTH, (chi2 test). CONCLUSIONS: Using a prospective, randomized approach, a 2-week course of high-dose ACTH is superior to 2 weeks of prednsone for treatment of IS, as assessed by both clinical and EEG criteria.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗