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Home  >  Medical Research Archives  >  Issue 149  > HEMIFACIAL SPASM IN LATE-ONSET MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW
Published in the Medical Research Archives
Nov 2016 Issue

HEMIFACIAL SPASM IN LATE-ONSET MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Published on Nov 17, 2016

DOI 

Abstract

 

Movement disorders are rare manifestations of late-onset multiple sclerosis (LOMS). We report a case of a 62 years old man who presented an acute onset of unilateral sustained, irregular, brief contracture in his left-side facial muscles. Clinical, neurophysological and neuroimaging exams allowed a diagnosis of hemifacial spasm (HFS) in MS. Specifically, needle electromyography revealed repetitive motor unit action potentials firing at high frequency discharge (100-150 Hz) in the affected facial muscles., suggesting that demyelinating lesion involved the lower facial motor neurons in the intra-axial exit zone. Blink reflex findings confirmed the efferent demyelinating injury. In literature HFS explicitly associated with MS are described but not as first presentation symptoms of LOMS. A careful neurophysiological evaluation can modify the interpretation of an atypical clinical presentation, allowing to establish the specific anatomical location and extent of injury, and the most appropriate treatment.

Author info

Maurizio Inghilleri, Emanuela Onesti, Vittorio Frasca

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