Lance-adams syndrome

Abstract

Lance-Adams syndrome (LAS) is a rare complication of successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation and is often accompanied by action myoclonus. LAS is seen in patients who have undergone a cardiorespiratory arrest, later regained consciousness, and then developed myoclonus days or weeks after the event. Less than 150 cases of LAS have been reported in the worldwide medical literature. Here, we present a 32-year-old man who suffered from myoclonus after hypoxic brain damage due to hanging himself. This case was diagnosed as Lance-Adams syndrome according to a history of hypoxic brain damage, the clinical features, and the neuroimages such as brain SPECT. Making an early diagnosis and properly managing LAS is positively related to improving the patient's functional outcome. If patients have posthypoxic myoclonus after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, we should consider the diagnosis of LAS and initiate a proper rehabilitation program.

Keywords: Lance-Adams syndrome; Posthypoxic myoclonus.

Fig. 1

The brain computed tomography scan shows normal findings.

Fig. 2

The T2-weighted images of brain magnetic resonance imaging show mild diffuse brain atrophy.

Fig. 3

The brain single photon emission computed tomography scan shows mild diffuse hypoperfusion in the brain and especially in the right basal ganglia and left temporal region 1 month after cardiorespiratory resuscitation