Beginning in May of 1998, my sixteen-year old daughter has had periodic episodes where her hands, esp. the left one, will turn into a "claw" like form and can be straightened only with resistance. The first episode of this occurred while on Acutane. She continued the acne treatment for four months, with the episodes occuring approximately once/two months. On the fourth month, she had 21 episodes (isolated) one day, and we saw a Family Practicianer who wanted her to discontinue her Acutane. Since then, she has infrequently had these episodes, but the length of time they affect her hands has increased. Last week, she was braiding a friends hair, and both hands began this weird contracting. After it lasted about 2 hours, I took her to the emergency room where they did electrolytes (normal)and she was examined there and found to have very "cold" hands. When the hands were warmed under running water, they no longer "curled", but upon returning home, the episodes occured again, even with warmed hands, but to a lesser degree. She has had a clean MRI and normal neurological exams in the past. These events only occur when she is very tired and are often (but not always) followed by a mild headache. Do you have any idea what this could be and what tests should be run? I have mitochondrial cytopathy but have nothing that resembles these symptoms, and both my neurologist in MS and Dr. Cohen think my mito problems are sporadic. My daughter is 5'10" and weighs about 130#..no other problems except acid reflux...takes prilosec. Thank you..JanB