Facial Involuntary Movements and Respiratory Failure in CANOMAD, Responsive to IVIG Therapy

CANOMAD is a rare chronic neuropathy, characterized by chronic sensory ataxia and intermittent brain stem symptoms due to antidisialosyl antibodies. The disorder results in significant morbidity but is poorly understood and often misdiagnosed. We describe a unique case of CANOMAD, associated with in...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kate Johnson, Ashish Malkan, Mohamed Shaffi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/170543
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Summary:CANOMAD is a rare chronic neuropathy, characterized by chronic sensory ataxia and intermittent brain stem symptoms due to antidisialosyl antibodies. The disorder results in significant morbidity but is poorly understood and often misdiagnosed. We describe a unique case of CANOMAD, associated with involuntary movements of the face; patient reported exacerbations with citrus and chocolate and respiratory muscle weakness. Our patient was initially misdiagnosed with Miller Fisher Syndrome, highlighting the need for vigilance should neurological symptoms recur in patients initially diagnosed with a Guillain Barre variant. Moreover, the optimal treatment is unknown. This patient responded remarkably to intravenous immunoglobulin and has been maintained on this treatment, without further exacerbations.
ISSN:1687-9627
1687-9635