Case Report

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in dizygotic twins with schizophrenia: a case report

Authors

Shunji Matsunaga¹, Hiroaki Koga¹, Naoya Kawabata¹, Ichiro Kawamura¹, Masaki Otusji¹, Takanori Imakiire¹ and Setsuro Komiya²

1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Imakiire General Hospital, 4-16 Shimotatsuo, Kagoshima 892-8502, Japan
2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan

Received:

7 September 2007

Accepted:

22 November 2007

Published online:

29 February 2008

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Abstract

The pathogenesis of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligaments (OPLL) has not been clarified. We here report dizygotic twin sisters with OPLL of the cervical spine and propose a new pathogenesis of OPLL. This is the first report of dizygotic twins with OPLL. The twins suffered from schizophrenia, which might be related to the pathogenesis of OPLL. In addition, we investigated the occurrence of OPLL in 30 patients with schizophrenia who had been admitted to a mental hospital. OPLL of the cervical spine was found in six (20%) of them, with an incidence almost five times higher than the incidence of OPLL among the general population in Japan. Schizophrenia may have a increased susceptibility to OPLL.

Key words

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) - Schizophrenia - Dizygotic twins - Calcineurin - Myelopathy