Hereditary stiff-baby syndrome
S. Lingam, J. Wilson and E. W. Hart
Clinical and electrophysiologic features of an infant with stiff-baby
syndrome were studied; his father, uncle, and paternal grandmother suffered
from a similar disorder. They all had a similar facial appearance during
infancy (an alert, frightened, tense look) and a tendency to vomit because
of hiatal hernias. The condition is benign but causes anxiety and, later,
embarrassment as affected adults suddenly fall when stumbling or startled.
We suggest that the condition be called hereditary stiff-baby syndrome. The
family history is suggestive of autosomal dominant inheritance.
