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Writer cramp

MedGen UID:
57821
Concept ID:
C0154676
Disease or Syndrome
Synonym: Writer's cramp
SNOMED CT: Writer's cramp (52008007); Organic writers' cramp (52008007); Organic writer's cramp (52008007); Graphospasm (52008007); Writers' cramp (52008007); Scriveners' palsy (52008007); Paralysis notariorum (52008007); Writers' paralysis (52008007); Writers' spasm (52008007)
 
HPO: HP:0002356
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0000482

Definition

A focal dystonia of the fingers, hand, and/or forearm that appears when the affected person attempts to do a task that requires fine motor movements such as writing or playing a musical instrument. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVWriter cramp

Conditions with this feature

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease
MedGen UID:
61440
Concept ID:
C0205711
Disease or Syndrome
PLP1 disorders of central nervous system myelin formation include a range of phenotypes from Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) to spastic paraplegia 2 (SPG2). PMD typically manifests in infancy or early childhood with nystagmus, hypotonia, and cognitive impairment; the findings progress to severe spasticity and ataxia. Life span is shortened. SPG2 manifests as spastic paraparesis with or without CNS involvement and usually normal life span. Intrafamilial variation of phenotypes can be observed, but the signs are usually fairly consistent within families. Heterozygous females may manifest mild-to-moderate signs of the disease.
Torsion dystonia 6
MedGen UID:
236274
Concept ID:
C1414216
Disease or Syndrome
Torsion dystonia-6 (DYT6) is an autosomal dominant movement disorder characterized by early involvement of craniofacial muscles with secondary generalization often involving the arms, and laryngeal dystonia that causes speech difficulties (review by Djarmati et al., 2009). Blanchard et al. (2011) provided a review of dystonia-6 and the THAP1 gene.
Myoclonic dystonia 11
MedGen UID:
331778
Concept ID:
C1834570
Disease or Syndrome
SGCE myoclonus-dystonia (SGCE-M-D) is a movement disorder characterized by a combination of rapid, brief muscle contractions (myoclonus) and/or sustained twisting and repetitive movements that result in abnormal postures (dystonia). The myoclonic jerks typical of SGCE-M-D most often affect the neck, trunk, and upper limbs with less common involvement of the legs. Approximately 50% of affected individuals have additional focal or segmental dystonia, presenting as cervical dystonia and/or writer's cramp. Non-motor features may include alcohol abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anxiety disorders. Symptom onset is usually in the first decade of life and almost always by age 20 years, but ranges from age six months to 80 years. Most affected adults report a dramatic reduction in myoclonus in response to alcohol ingestion. SGCE-M-D is compatible with an active life of normal span.
Rolandic epilepsy-paroxysmal exercise-induced dystonia-writer cramp syndrome
MedGen UID:
334104
Concept ID:
C1842531
Disease or Syndrome
Rolandic epilepsy with paroxysmal exercise-induced dystonia and writer's cramp (EPRPDC) is an autosomal recessive neurologic disorder characterized by onset of focal seizures in infancy and exercise-induced dystonia in childhood. Features usually include involuntary movements, including facial movements, and difficulties with fine motor skills of the hand. Seizures often respond to medication and remit with age; the dystonia tends to persist (summary by Luthy et al., 2019).
Torsion dystonia 13
MedGen UID:
335918
Concept ID:
C1843264
Disease or Syndrome
DYT13 type primary dystonia has characteristics of focal or segmental dystonia with cranial, cervical, or upper limb involvement. It has been reported in individuals from three generations of one large Italian family. Age of onset varied between 5 years and adulthood. The clinical manifestations were generally mild and slowly progressive. The causative gene locus has been identified on chromosome 1p36.13-1p36.32. Transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner.
Myoclonic dystonia 15
MedGen UID:
334492
Concept ID:
C1843786
Disease or Syndrome
A myoclonic dystonia characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance that has material basis in variation in the chromosome region 18p11.
Dystonia 5
MedGen UID:
342121
Concept ID:
C1851920
Disease or Syndrome
GTP cyclohydrolase 1-deficient dopa-responsive dystonia (GTPCH1-deficient DRD) is characterized by childhood-onset dystonia and a dramatic and sustained response to low doses of oral administration of levodopa. This disorder typically presents with gait disturbance caused by foot dystonia, later development of parkinsonism, and diurnal fluctuation of symptoms (aggravation of symptoms toward the evening and alleviation of symptoms in the morning after sleep). Initial symptoms are often gait difficulties attributable to flexion-inversion (equinovarus posture) of the foot. Occasionally, initial symptoms are arm dystonia, postural tremor of the hand, or slowness of movements. Brisk deep-tendon reflexes in the legs, ankle clonus, and/or the striatal toe (dystonic extension of the big toe) are present in many affected individuals. In general, gradual progression to generalized dystonia is observed. Intellectual, cerebellar, sensory, and autonomic disturbances generally do not occur.
Early-onset generalized limb-onset dystonia
MedGen UID:
338823
Concept ID:
C1851945
Disease or Syndrome
DYT1 early-onset isolated dystonia typically presents in childhood or adolescence and only on occasion in adulthood. Dystonic muscle contractions causing posturing or irregular tremor of a leg or arm are the most common presenting findings. Dystonia is usually first apparent with specific actions such as writing or walking. Over time, the contractions frequently (but not invariably) become evident with less specific actions and spread to other body regions. No other neurologic abnormalities are present. Disease severity varies considerably even within the same family. Isolated writer's cramp may be the only sign.
Neuroferritinopathy
MedGen UID:
381211
Concept ID:
C1853578
Disease or Syndrome
Neuroferritinopathy is an adult-onset progressive movement disorder characterized by chorea or dystonia and speech and swallowing deficits. The movement disorder typically affects one or two limbs and progresses to become more generalized within 20 years of disease onset. When present, asymmetry in the movement abnormalities remains throughout the course of the disorder. Most individuals develop a characteristic orofacial action-specific dystonia related to speech that leads to dysarthrophonia. Frontalis overactivity and orolingual dyskinesia are common. Cognitive deficits and behavioral issues become major problems with time.
Torsion dystonia 7
MedGen UID:
355560
Concept ID:
C1865818
Disease or Syndrome
Idiopathic torsion dystonia (ITD) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of movement disorders characterized by sustained dystonic muscle contractions causing involuntary twisting movements and/or postures, where causes such as cerebral lesions (especially of the basal ganglia), drugs, or other neurologic disorders have not been found. Adult-onset torsion dystonia usually remains focal and is localized in the upper part of the body (summary by Leube et al., 1996).
Occupational dystonia
MedGen UID:
370752
Concept ID:
C1969807
Disease or Syndrome
Focal dystonia, the most common form of dystonia, is often task-specific and referred to as FTSD. Specific learned motor tasks, such as writing or playing a musical instrument, can trigger muscle spasms and interfere with performance while other actions are unaffected. FTSD has a frequency of 1 in 3,400 in the general population but increases to 1 in 200 among musicians (Pullman and Hristova, 2005).
Dystonia 23
MedGen UID:
761274
Concept ID:
C3538999
Disease or Syndrome
A rare genetic isolated dystonia with characteristics of adult-onset non-progressive focal cervical dystonia typically manifesting with torticollis and occasionally accompanied by mild head tremor and essential-type limb tremor.
Dystonia 27
MedGen UID:
907580
Concept ID:
C4225336
Disease or Syndrome
Dystonia-27 (DYT27) is an autosomal recessive neurologic disorder characterized by onset of segmental isolated dystonia mainly affecting the craniocervical region and upper limbs in the first 2 decades of life (summary by Zech et al., 2015).
Dystonia 30
MedGen UID:
1785079
Concept ID:
C5543312
Disease or Syndrome
Dystonia-30 (DYT30) is an autosomal dominant neurologic disorder characterized by the onset of symptoms in the first decades of life. Patients present with oromandibular, cervical, bulbar, or upper limb dystonia, and usually show slow progression to generalized dystonia. Some patients may lose ambulation. A subset of patients may also have neurocognitive impairment, including mild intellectual disability or psychiatric manifestations (summary by Steel et al., 2020). In a review of the pathogenesis of disorders with prominent dystonia, Monfrini et al. (2021) classified DYT30 as belonging to a group of neurologic disorders termed 'HOPS-associated neurologic disorders' (HOPSANDs), which are caused by mutations in genes encoding various components of the autophagic/endolysosomal system, including VPS16.
Dystonia 31
MedGen UID:
1794211
Concept ID:
C5562001
Disease or Syndrome
Dystonia-31 (DYT31) is an autosomal recessive progressive neurologic disorder characterized by involuntary muscle twisting movements and postural abnormalities affecting the upper and lower limbs, neck, face, and trunk. Some patients may have orofacial dyskinesia resulting in articulation and swallowing difficulties. The age at onset ranges from childhood to young adulthood. There are usually no additional neurologic symptoms, although late-onset parkinsonism was reported in 1 family (summary by Zech et al., 2022).
Dystonia 34, myoclonic
MedGen UID:
1805016
Concept ID:
C5676907
Disease or Syndrome
Myoclonic dystonia-34 (DYT34) is an autosomal dominant neurologic disorder characterized by childhood-onset dystonia primarily involving the hands and neck, with a fast tremor with superimposed myoclonus (Balint et al., 2020).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Wagle Shukla A
Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2022 Oct 1;28(5):1333-1349. doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000001181. PMID: 36222768
Abboud H, Probasco JC, Irani S, Ances B, Benavides DR, Bradshaw M, Christo PP, Dale RC, Fernandez-Fournier M, Flanagan EP, Gadoth A, George P, Grebenciucova E, Jammoul A, Lee ST, Li Y, Matiello M, Morse AM, Rae-Grant A, Rojas G, Rossman I, Schmitt S, Venkatesan A, Vernino S, Pittock SJ, Titulaer MJ; Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance Clinicians Network
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2021 Jul;92(7):757-768. Epub 2021 Mar 1 doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-325300. PMID: 33649022Free PMC Article
Bhatia KP, Bain P, Bajaj N, Elble RJ, Hallett M, Louis ED, Raethjen J, Stamelou M, Testa CM, Deuschl G; Tremor Task Force of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Mov Disord 2018 Jan;33(1):75-87. Epub 2017 Nov 30 doi: 10.1002/mds.27121. PMID: 29193359Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Lozeron P, Poujois A, Meppiel E, Masmoudi S, Magnan TP, Vicaut E, Houdart E, Guichard JP, Trocello JM, Woimant F, Kubis N
J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017 Oct;124(10):1161-1170. Epub 2017 Jul 8 doi: 10.1007/s00702-017-1756-1. PMID: 28689295

Therapy

Lozeron P, Poujois A, Meppiel E, Masmoudi S, Magnan TP, Vicaut E, Houdart E, Guichard JP, Trocello JM, Woimant F, Kubis N
J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017 Oct;124(10):1161-1170. Epub 2017 Jul 8 doi: 10.1007/s00702-017-1756-1. PMID: 28689295

Clinical prediction guides

Lozeron P, Poujois A, Meppiel E, Masmoudi S, Magnan TP, Vicaut E, Houdart E, Guichard JP, Trocello JM, Woimant F, Kubis N
J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017 Oct;124(10):1161-1170. Epub 2017 Jul 8 doi: 10.1007/s00702-017-1756-1. PMID: 28689295

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