Neurology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Video
Right arrow Correspondence:
Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Correspondence are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Espay, A. J.
Right arrow Articles by Chen, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Espay, A. J.
Right arrow Articles by Chen, R.
Related Collections
Right arrow Tremor
NEUROLOGY 2007;69:689-692
© 2007 American Academy of Neurology

Isolated diaphragmatic tremor

Is there a spectrum in "respiratory myoclonus"?

A. J. Espay, MD, MSc, S. H. Fox, MCRP, PhD, C. Marras, MD, PhD, A. E. Lang, MD, FRCPC and R. Chen, MBBChir, MSc, FRCPC

From the Toronto Western Research Institute and Division of Neurology (A.J.E., S.H.F., C.M., A.E.L., R.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Neuroscience Institute (A.J.E.), Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Center, University of Cincinnati, OH.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. R. Chen, Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., MC 7-411, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8 Robert.Chen{at}uhn.on.ca

Background: Respiratory myoclonus or diaphragmatic flutter is an unusual movement disorder with abnormal diaphragmatic activity, which may be associated with respiratory symptoms. The effects of distracting maneuvers on diaphragmatic activity have not been investigated.

Methods: Two patients with nondisabling abdominal movements of suspected diaphragmatic origin were studied with surface and needle electromyography (EMG).

Results: The abdominal movements resulted from isolated, rhythmic diaphragmatic contractions with variable EMG burst duration, suppressibility with breath-holding and distracting maneuvers, and other attributes of volitional control.

Conclusion: "Respiratory myoclonus" may be a heterogeneous disorder ranging from synchronous movements of the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles associated with respiratory compromise, to diaphragmatic movements under at least some volitional control with no respiratory or functional disability. The latter group could be designated phenomenologically as "isolated diaphragmatic tremor."

Supplemental data at www.neurology.org

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Received January 8, 2007. Accepted in final form March 19, 2007.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2007 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.