Oculomotor Abnormalities in Anti-Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase-Positive Stiff Person Syndrome
<b>Background:</b> Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) can give rise to stiff person syndrome (SPS), an infrequent autoimmune condition of the central nervous system marked by fluctuating muscular rigidity and stimulus-evoked spasms. Disturbances in eye-movement control are rarely identified yet may provide insight into underlying neural involvement. <b>Methods:</b> Two individuals with anti-GAD-related SPS showing distinctive ocular-motor abnormalities were examined with quantitative videonystagmography, supplemented by representative video documentation. <b>Results:</b> Recordings demonstrated varied patterns of ocular-motor disturbance, including reduced smooth-pursuit accuracy, delayed saccadic initiation, dysmetria, intrusive saccades, and several nystagmus types. Partial improvement occurred after immunomodulatory therapy. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings extend current understanding of the anti-GAD SPS phenotype and indicate that quantitative analysis of eye movements may offer a sensitive, non-invasive marker of disease activity. Larger, prospective studies are needed to clarify prevalence and responsiveness to treatment.
Authors
- Pavol Skáčik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5630-9822)
- Egon Kurča (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1025-6830)
- Milan Grofik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0464-0497)
- Štefan Sivák (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0348-3082)
- Monika Turčanová Koprušáková (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7864-6560)
- Jaroslav Petrisin
- Kristian Sveda
Institutions
- Martin University Hospital (SK)
- Comenius University Bratislava (SK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Neurology International
- Published
- 2025-11-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint17110179
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Autoimmune Neurological Disorders and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.39