Morvan's syndrome

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Morvan's syndrome  is also known as Morvan's 'fibrillary chorea'. It is often characterized by pain, weight loss, severe insomnia and hallucinations.

Morvan’s Syndrome involved the widespread neurological impairment which affects the autonomic system  which includes cardiac arrhythmia, severe constipation, urinary incontinence, hyperhidrosis, excessive lacrymation and salivation, the peripheral nervous system (NMT), and finally Central Nervous System which includes spatial and temporal disorientation, hallucinations, impairment of recent memory, severe insomnia and complex nocturnal behaviours.

These features of Morvan’s Disease are associated with increased serum levels of antibodies to VGKCs. There are evidences of antibodies binding to brain neurones and marked changes in circadian serum levels of neurohormones. Since there are striking evidences of improvement in peripheral and central symptoms, following PE, it demonstrates that the Morvan’s Syndrome is caused by serum factors; probably, but not necessarily only by autoantibodies.

Some Symptoms of Morvan’s Syndrome

Although it has many sleep related issues and symptoms, here are some generic issues which people with Morvan’s Syndrome faces:

1. Confusion
2. Visual hallucinations
3. Severe Insomnia
4. Anxiety
5. Sweating
6. Diarrhoea
7. A slurred dysarthria
8. Abnormal muscle activity
9. Fluctuated activities which move dramatically from day to day
10. Steady overall deterioration
11. Performing poorly in orientation, attention/concentration, verbal fluency, and visuospatial abilities.

The diagnosis of Morvan’s syndrome is done by doing nerve conduction study and clinical phenotypes.