Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibody Related Stiff Person Syndrome: Two Case Reports Of A Child and An Adult

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a disease accompanied by rigidity, severe and painful spasms in the extremities, axial and abdominal muscles, and gait disturbance. SPS is most common in adults, between the ages of 20-50, and in female sex. The most frequently reported antibody in patients with SPS is antibodies developed against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) enzyme. In this article, two SPS cases from different age groups who presented with gait disturbance, painful spasms and were found to have GAD antibody positivity were presented with clinical and electrophysiological findings in the light of the literature. As in our cases, SPS should definitely be considered in the differential diagnosis of every age group presenting with muscle stiffness and especially spasms that increase with stimulus.