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Start free with EleplanProgressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus
ORPHA:438266Clinical subtype
Also called PERM
What it is
A rare stiff person syndrome spectrum disorder characterized by limb and truncal rigidity, stimulus-sensitive spasms, myoclonus, hyperekplexia, autonomic disturbance, and brainstem involvement or other neurological defects. The condition is progressive and potentially life-threatening, especially due to respiratory failure. It may be associated with the presence of glycine receptor or glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies, as well as thymomas or lymphomas.
Key facts
- Age of onset
- Adult, Infancy
- Inheritance
- Not applicable
- Classified as
- Clinical subtype
Recorded for the broader condition
- Prevalence
- 1-9 / 1 000 000 (Europe)Stiff person spectrum disorder
Orphanet records these for the broader condition rather than for this specific form. They are a starting point, not a figure for this subtype — subtypes often differ, and some are defined by being rarer than the condition they sit under.
ICD-10 codes
ICD-10 has no distinct code for most rare diseases, so many are filed under the nearest available one. A shared code identifies the group, not this disease — the ORPHAcode above is what identifies it.
Related health topics
Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.
Cross-references
Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Data version 2026-06-23. Available under CC BY 4.0. This is a reference, not medical advice.
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