Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Hospital de Pediatría
"Prof Dr. Juan P. Garrahan", Buenos Aires, Argentina
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Santiago Flesler, Servicio de
Neurología, Hospital Nacional de Pediatría, "Prof. Dr. Juan P.
Garrahan", Combate de los pozos 1881, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tel.: +54 119
436 116; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is an unusual entity of
early-childhood onset characterized by variable, irregular, abnormal movements
in the trunk and limbs, myoclonus, and chaotic eye movements (opsoclonus). In
half of the patients, OMS presents as a paraneoplastic syndrome secondary to
tumors of the neural crest (neuroblastoma), but the etiology may be multiple.
OMS has been reported to occur in association with viral infections. We
describe three patients with clinical features of OMS who developed paroxystic
episodes compatible with stimulus-sensitive myoclonus. The presence of these
paroxysmal phenomena does not rule out OMS. We suggest that in patients with
OMS the presence or absence of stimulus-sensitive myoclonus should be
considered to recognize the true prevalence of these particular electroclinical
events.
