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Autoimmune Movement Disorders
Welcome to the Autoimmune Movement Disorders page at the University of Miami's Division of Movement Disorders. Autoimmune movement disorders are a group of rare conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells within the nervous system, leading to a range of movement abnormalities. These disorders can be challenging to diagnose and treat, requiring a specialized and individualized approach.
Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS): Stiff Person Syndrome is characterized by fluctuating muscle rigidity and painful spasms, predominantly affecting the axial muscles, including the spine and lower extremities. This autoimmune disorder is often associated with other autoimmune diseases and can significantly impact mobility and quality of life. Treatment typically includes medications to manage muscle stiffness and spasms, immunotherapy, and symptomatic relief strategies.
Anti-IGLON5 Disease: Anti-IGLON5 disease is a recently discovered neurological disorder associated with antibodies against the IGLON5 protein. Patients may experience a combination of sleep abnormalities, movement disorders, and bulbar symptoms like difficulty swallowing and speaking. This condition is particularly challenging due to its complex symptoms and the need for tailored immunotherapeutic approaches.
Other Disorders: Other autoimmune movement disorders may include conditions like paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, where the immune response to a cancer affects the nervous system, causing diverse neurological symptoms, including movement disorders. Each of these conditions requires a careful and comprehensive evaluation to determine the best therapeutic approach, often involving immunosuppressants or corticosteroids.
Our division is dedicated to advancing research and clinical care for autoimmune movement disorders. We offer a multidisciplinary approach involving neurologists, immunologists, and other specialists to provide the most effective treatments and improve outcomes for our patients. Explore our resources to learn more about these complex disorders and the innovative care strategies we employ at our center.
Centers of Excellence at University of Miami
The Division received the designation as a Center of Excellence from the Parkinson’s Foundation in 2007. Since then the team has also been designated an American Parkinson’s Disease Information and Referral Center, Cure PSP Center of Care, Huntington Disease Center of Excellence, and Wilson’s Disease Center of Excellence. The division also comprises part of Cognitive Neurology’s Lewy Body Disease Center of Excellence, and the Department of Psychiatry’s Tourette Center of Excellence.
