A Clinical Study of 11 Patients with Meige's Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Meige's suydrome is a disorder of adults, and is characterized chiefly by prolonged symmetric dystonic contractions of the orofacial muscles. Eleven patients with prominent orofacial dystonia of unknown cause (Meige's syndrome) were examined at the department of neurology of Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei Unversity Medical Center, and the following results has been obtained. 1. There were 3 men and 8 women. 2. Their ages ranged from 31 to 60 years (mean. 51.2), with the peak incidence in the 6th decade (7 of 11 patients). None of the patients was younger than 30. 3. Blepharospasm was the initial symptom in 11 patients. All patients developed the complete syndrome, blepharospasm and oromandifular dystonia. 4. Response to medication was inconsistent, but 6 of 8 patients trials resulted in some improvement one with complete remission and 3 with marked imprvement. Clonazepam and trihexyphenidyl (Artane) were useful for the treatment of Meige's syndrome.