Violent myoclonus after cardiac arrest, yet the brain imaging looked unremarkable
A man in his 20s had severe, nonstop myoclonic jerks after two cardiac arrests, but scans and EEG did not show the brain damage usually expected.
Lance-Adams syndrome is a rare condition in which prolonged oxygen deprivation is followed by chronic myoclonus that worsens with intended movement. It can resemble myoclonus status epilepticus, a pattern usually linked to a poor outcome, and there are no standardised diagnostic criteria.
This case report describes a man in his 20s who had two in-hospital cardiac arrests. Afterwards he developed persistent generalised myoclonic seizures that did not respond to several antiepileptics and sedation. CT, MRI and EEG did not support myoclonus status epilepticus. His consciousness was preserved and there was no significant evidence of brain injury, which pointed toward Lance-Adams syndrome.
Ketamine was eventually needed to stop the generalised seizures. Antiepileptic drugs were then adjusted to reduce the remaining intention myoclonus. As a single case, it cannot show how well this approach works in other patients.
Summary prepared with AI assistance from the published abstract and reviewed by a physician. Not medical advice. Learn more
