Muscle restricted vasculitis causing dropped head syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

Amy Almaraz Nielsen; Benn E. Smith; Andrew G. Engel; Erich Peter Bosch

doi:10.1097/CND.0b013e3182461992

Muscle restricted vasculitis causing dropped head syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

Amy Almaraz Nielsen, Benn E. Smith, Andrew G. Engel, Erich Peter Bosch

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 52-year-old man presented with a severe head drop and proximal extremity weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed T2 hyperintensity in cervical paraspinal muscles. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed an axial myopathy isolated to paraspinal muscles. A splenius capitis muscle biopsy confirmed an acute myopathy associated with nonsystemic vasculitis. The patient improved on steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and monthly pulse doses of cyclophosphamide. Our case emphasizes that a subgroup of patients with dropped head syndrome have treatable conditions.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	117-121
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of clinical neuromuscular disease
Volume	13
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/CND.0b013e3182461992
State	Published - Mar 2012

Keywords

dropped head syndrome
electromyography
muscle biopsy
muscle vasculitis
nonsystemic vasculitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neurology
Clinical Neurology

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10.1097/CND.0b013e3182461992

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title = "Muscle restricted vasculitis causing dropped head syndrome: A case report and review of the literature",

abstract = "A 52-year-old man presented with a severe head drop and proximal extremity weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed T2 hyperintensity in cervical paraspinal muscles. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed an axial myopathy isolated to paraspinal muscles. A splenius capitis muscle biopsy confirmed an acute myopathy associated with nonsystemic vasculitis. The patient improved on steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and monthly pulse doses of cyclophosphamide. Our case emphasizes that a subgroup of patients with dropped head syndrome have treatable conditions.",

keywords = "dropped head syndrome, electromyography, muscle biopsy, muscle vasculitis, nonsystemic vasculitis",

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AU - Bosch, Erich Peter

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AB - A 52-year-old man presented with a severe head drop and proximal extremity weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed T2 hyperintensity in cervical paraspinal muscles. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed an axial myopathy isolated to paraspinal muscles. A splenius capitis muscle biopsy confirmed an acute myopathy associated with nonsystemic vasculitis. The patient improved on steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and monthly pulse doses of cyclophosphamide. Our case emphasizes that a subgroup of patients with dropped head syndrome have treatable conditions.

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KW - electromyography

KW - muscle biopsy

KW - muscle vasculitis

KW - nonsystemic vasculitis

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Muscle restricted vasculitis causing dropped head syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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