A SYNDROME OF CONTINUOUS MUSCLE-FIBRE ACTIVITY BY HYAM ISAACS* Johannesburg

The purpose of this paper is to describe two cases of a hitherto unknown syndrome superficially resembling myotonia. Detailed studies have helped to separate this syndrome of continuous muscle-fibre activity from a group of 100 myotonic subjects, and it will be referred to in this paper as the 'syndrome of continuous muscle-fibre activity'. This descriptive label has been chosen, though the more imaginative may favour 'armadillo disease', a name by which these cases are likened to the slow moving, armour-plated quadruped. Case Reports Case 1.-M.P., aged 12, was referred for investigation with a complaint of stiffness of the muscles which had been progressive over the past three years. The patient (Fig. 1), according to his parents, was reasonably normal up to the age of 9 years, quite able to run about and compete with his friends. They stated, however, that from the age of 5 years he had some difficulty in walking FIG. 1.-Note stiff posture and contraction of muscles (Case 1); con-traction of trapezius is not be be mistaken N,X <- "....... t 211for webbing