Acquired neuromyotonia and peripheral neuropathy in a patient with Hodgkin's disease

Acquired neuromyotonia is characterized by hyperexcitability of motor nerve s resulting in continuous muscle fiber activity. It occurs most often as a paraneoplastic syndrome in patients with cancers of the immune system. Anti bodies against voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKGs) have been detected in some patients. Peripheral neuropathy is sometimes present. We report on a patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma in complete remission who developed pares thesias followed by neuromyotonia with bulbar involvement. Peripheral senso rimotor neuropathy was diagnosed electrophysiologically and evidence of axo nal degeneration and demyelination was detected by sural nerve biopsy. The patient's complaints, including dysarthria, improved after carbamazepine tr eatment. (C) 2001 John Wiiey & Sons, Inc.