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Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome
is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find
the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Synonyms
- Myoclonic Encephalopathy, Kinsbourne Type
- Opsoclonic Encephalopathy
- Kinsbourne Syndrome
- Dancing Eyes-Dancing Feet
Disorder Subdivisions
- None
General Discussion
Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that usually affects infants and young children. It is characterized by the sudden onset of brief, repeated, shock-like spasms of muscles within the arms, legs, or entire body (myoclonus), an impaired ability to control voluntary movements (ataxia), and continual, involuntary, rapid eye movements in both horizontal and vertical directions (opsoclonus).
In approximately 50 percent of affected individuals, a malignant tumor, usually a tumor of embryonic nerve cells (neuroblastoma), is responsible for the symptoms associated with opsoclonus myoclonus. In most other cases, the disorder may be due to a viral infection such as Coxsackievirus B3, poliovirus, or St. Louis encephalitis virus. Rarely, it may result from other underlying causes such as a tumor within the skull (intracranial tumors) or hydrocephalus, a condition in which inhibition of the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and abnormal widening (dilatation) of the cerebral spaces of the brain (ventricles) causes accumulation of CSF in the skull and potentially increased pressure on brain tissue.
Resources
Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Support Network, Inc.
4616 Brookwood St. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
USA
Tel: 5058812285
Email: sandragreenberg@hotmail.com
Internet: www.geocities.com/opso-myoclonus
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
31 Center Drive
8A07
Bethesda, MD 20892-2540
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
National Pediatric Myoclonus Center
SIU School of Medicine
Dept. of Neurology, Div. of Ped. Neurology
PO Box 19643
Springfield, IL 62794-9643
USA
Tel: 2175457635
Fax: 2175451903
Email: oms@siumed.edu
Internet: http://www.omsusa.org
Dancing Eye Syndrome Support Trust
78 Quantock Road
Worthing
West Sussex, Intl BN13 2HQ
United Kingdom
Tel: 01903 532383
Fax: 01903 532383
Email: support@dancingeyes.org.uk
Internet: http://www.dancingeyes.org.uk
For a Complete Report:
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 4/25/2008
Copyright 1990, 1997, 2005 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders
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It’s natural to call the doctor if you think your child is sick. But do you really need to call every time? Not every sniffle is as serious as you may think.
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