Lance-adams syndrome

Abstract

It is not common for a patient who survives cardiac arrest to experience significant neurologic impairment such as acute and chronic post-hypoxic myoclonus, known as Lance-Adams syndrome. This syndrome is predominantly characterized by myoclonus that starts days to weeks after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in patients who regained consciousness. Although several cases of LAS were reported, the decisive treatment method has not been established. We report a 43 year old man with Lance-Adams syndrome who showed long-term improvement through treatment with anti-myoclonic agents and participation in a rehabilitation program.

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Lance-Adams syndrome; Myoclonus.

Fig. 1

One day after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the electroencephalogram (EEG) of the patient showed semiperiodic bursts of spike-and-waves and polyspike-and-wave-complexes, maximally in the frontal area.

Fig. 2

One month after CPR, the EEG showed no epileptiform activities.

Fig. 3

Three months after CPR, the EEG showed low voltage background activity though the artifacts at the multiple electrode.

Fig. 4

Three months after CPR, T2-weighted magnetic resonance axial images of the patient showed subtle hyperintense lesions in the both cerebral white matters, suggesting hypoxic encephalopathy.