Diaphragmatic flutter, the moving umbilicus syndrome, and “belly dancer's” dyskinesia

Abstract

Five patients presenting with focal abnormal involuntary movements of the abdominal wall are described. One was shown to have diaphragmatic flutter, which may represent a variant of the palatal myoclonus syndrome. The other four had writhing movements and contractions of the abdominal wall at frequencies of approximately 30 per minute. In two of the latter cases, these abdominal movements were profoundly influenced by respiratory manoeuvres. They were quite unlike the movements of spinal myoclonus or axial torsion dystonia. None of the patients were taking drugs that might have provoked their abnormal movements, or had any other evidence of neurological deficit. No cause was established in any of the cases.

Late-Onset PANDAS Syndrome with Abdominal Muscle Involvement

“…The abnormal movements observed in the present case can be classified as isolated or semirhythmic myoclonic abdominal bursts with a variable distribution pattern. These hyperkinesias were different from the sinus movements characterizing the belly dancer dyskinesia described by Iliceto et al [5] or from the repetitive rhythmic jerks and oscillations recorded by Caviness et al [6]. Furthermore, we failed to detect any stimulus sensitiveness as described by Kono et al [7] (belly dance myoclonus).…”

Diaphragmatic flutter

“…Most descriptions are as case reports in both women and men from a wide age range, including children 1 2. The presenting symptoms may involve several systems: respiratory (dyspnoea, hyperventilation, sniffing), abdominal (abdominal pain, borborygmi, abdominal contractions, reflux) and cardiac (palpitations and chest pain) 2. It is typically worse during waking hours, is provoked by stress and is relieved by sleep.…”

Propriospinal myoclonus: The spectrum of clinical and neurophysiological phenotypes

“…The syndrome may be idiopathic or occur after a spinal lesion [63], local trauma or abdominal pain [65,67,68], vitamin B12 deficiency, L-dopa treatment [66], antidopaminergic drugs [69] or pontine myelinolysis [64]. In any case, its overlap with spinal myoclonus [65,70,71] and with functional movement disorders remains unclear and current data are insufficient to categorize this disorder as a discrete clinical entity.…”

“…The "belly dance" syndrome is reported as a focal (diaphragmatic) flutter/dyskinesia with involuntary writhing movements and contractions of the abdominal wall, producing a slow multidirectional displacement of the umbilicus mimicking a belly dance [63]. The typical movement occurs in any body position both lying down and standing, without any particular circadian pattern and it has been reported to increase under physical or emotional stress [64,65].…”