STIFF-PERSONS SYNDROME-ASSOCIATED WITH THYMOMA AND SUBSEQUENT MYASTHENIA-GRAVIS

We report the first case of stiff-persons' (-man) syndrome in the sett ing of a histologically proven thymoma. Muscular hyperactivity was abo lished under general anesthesia and the symptoms of stiffness resolved after thymectomy and three courses of intravenous immunoglobulins. Af ter thymectomy, the patient developed ocular myasthenia gravis which l ater resolved spontaneously. We suggest that thymoma be sought for in cases with neuromuscular hyperactivity syndromes. Myasthenia gravis ma y develop subsequently in these cases. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc .