Opsoclonus-myoclonus

OPSOCLONUS MYOCLONUS SYNDROME

GENERAL ASPECTS

Opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by the presence of rapid, involuntary eye movements (opsoclonus) and involuntary muscle twitching (myoclonus). These symptoms are often accompanied by ataxia (lack of coordination), irritability, and, in some cases, cognitive impairment. This syndrome can affect both children and adults and is often associated with underlying diseases such as infections, autoimmune diseases or neoplasms, especially neuroblastoma in children.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis is clinical, based on the observation of the characteristic symptoms and the patient’s clinical history. The diagnostic process includes a clinical history with a detailed evaluation of the symptoms, as well as medical and family history together with neurological examination and complementary imaging and laboratory tests, with blood and cerebrospinal fluid studies.

TREATMENT

Treatment focuses on symptom control with symptomatic medication and on addressing the underlying cause, which depending on the cause will consist of surgery or radiotherapy if it is a neoplastic process, antibiotics or antivirals if it is an infectious origin, or immunotherapy in autoimmune or idiopathic cases.