JZUS - Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE

Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B 2007 Vol.8 No.10 P.715-720

http://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0715

Lance-Adams syndrome: a report of two cases

Author(s): ZHANG Yan-xing, LIU Jian-ren, JIANG biao, LIU Hui-qin, DING Mei-ping, SONG Shui-jiang, ZHANG Bao-rong, ZHANG Hong, XU Bin, CHEN Huai-hong, WANG Zhong-jin, HUANG Jian-zheng
Affiliation(s): Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; more
Corresponding email(s): liujianren0571@hotmail.com
Key Words: Lance-Adams syndrome, Chronic post-hypoxic myoclonus, Action myoclonus, Cerebellar ataxia, Single photon emission computed tomography, Positron emission tomography, Magnetic resonance spectroscopy

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Abstract: chronic post-hypoxic myoclonus, also known as lance-Adams syndrome (LAS), is a rare complication of successful cardiopulmanry resuscitation often accompanied by action myoclonus and cerebellar ataxia. It is seen in patients who have undergone a cardiorespiratory arrest, regained consciousness afterwards, and then developed myoclonus days or weeks after the event. Worldwide, 122 cases have been reported in the literature so far, including 1 case of Chinese. Here we report 2 Chinese LAS patients with detailed neuroimagings. Cranial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of patient 1, a 52-year-old woman, showed a mild hypoperfusion in her left temporal lobe, whereas patient 2, a 54-year-old woman, manifested a mild bilateral decrease of glucose metabolism in the frontal lobes and a mild to moderate decrease of the N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) peak in the bilateral hippocampi by cranial [¹⁸F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic (PET) scan and cranial magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), respectively. We also review the literature on the neuroimaging, pathogenesis, and treatment of LAS.

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