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Locked-in syndrome
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Overview
Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder. Signs and symptoms include paralysis of voluntary muscles in the body, except for those that control eye movement.Individuals with locked-in syndrome are conscious and can think and reason, but are unable to speak or move. It may be caused by brain stem stroke, traumatic brain injury, diseases of the circulatory system, diseases that destroy the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells, or medication overdose.[1]
References
- NINDS Locked-In Syndrome Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/lockedinsyndrome/lockedinsyndrome.htm#Organizations. Accessed July 30, 2010.
Your Questions Answered
by the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information CenterPlease contact us with your questions about Locked-in syndrome. We will answer your question and update these pages with new resources and information.
General Information
- MedlinePlus.gov provides more information on paralysis. MedlinePlus is a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions.
- MeSH® (Medical Subject Headings) is a terminology tool used by the National Library of Medicine. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge. Click on the link to read information on this topic.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Locked-in syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
Selected Full-Text Journal Articles
- Chisholm N, Gillett G. The patient's journey: living with locked-in syndrome. BMJ. 2005 Jul 9;331(7508):94-7.
- Smith E, Delargy M. Locked-in syndrome. BMJ. 2005 Feb 19;330(7488):406-9.
- Santosh C. Locked-in syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2001 Sep;71 Suppl 1:i2. You will need to register to view the article, but registration is free.
- Gawryluk JR, D'Arcy RC, Connolly JF, Weaver DF. Improving the clinical assessment of consciousness with advances in electrophysiological and neuroimaging techniques. BMC Neurol. 2010 Jan 29;10:11.
- Plotkin A, Sela L, Weissbrod A, Kahana R, Haviv L, Yeshurun Y, Soroker N, Sobel N. Sniffing enables communication and environmental control for the severely disabled. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Jul 26.
Press Releases
- HealthFinder.gov has an article on a sniffing device that allows people with locked-in syndrome to communicate and move a wheelchair. To read more click on the link above.