Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome associated with herpes simplex virus infection: a case report

Abstract

Purpose: Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a rare neurological disease that can be associated with autoimmunity, paraneoplastic tumour, infection or unknown aetiology.

Methods: We describe a 54-year-old woman who developed severe OMS, with the clinical onset occurring 2 months and 15 days after she experienced dizziness, vomiting and fever related to a herpes simplex virus infection. The patient was treated with hormones and clonazepam, and the symptoms of myoclonus and ataxia disappeared.

Results: The patient was followed up for 1 year with no recurrence of symptoms.

Conclusions: The case suggests that herpes simplex virus infection is a possible cause of OMS.

Keywords:

• Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome
• herpes simplex virus
• herpes simplex virus encephalitis
• relapse
• infection

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Acknowledgments

We thank the patient for her collaboration.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 81660227].