Flexion of the neck in patients with multiple sclerosis produces electric shock-like sensations that extend down the spine, a clinical manifestation identified as Lhermitte sign. This discovery remains a foundational diagnostic tool in neurology, illustrating the extensive contributions of a French medical practitioner whose career spanned the first half of the twentieth century in Paris.
Professional Formation and Academic Tenure
Born in Mont-Saint-Père in 1877, Jean Lhermitte pursued his professional education at the Paris Medical Faculty, graduating in 1907. His clinical progression was rapid; he served as a resident for nervous diseases in 1908 before assuming a laboratory role in 1910. By 1922, he achieved the rank of professeur agrégé for psychiatry. Throughout his tenure at the University of Paris, he balanced clinical duties with significant research, eventually becoming the clinical director at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital and head of the Dejerine Foundation.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Clinical Research and Neuropsychiatric Focus
The First World War provided a critical environment for his investigations into spinal injuries. This experience shifted his research toward the intersection of neurology and psychiatry. His work included examinations of visual hallucinations, specifically those where patients maintained insight into the unreal nature of their perceptions, now termed Lhermitte peduncular hallucinosis. Beyond conventional neurology, he applied his clinical methodology to investigate phenomena such as stigmatisation and demonic possession, seeking to understand the links between theological history and neurological function.
Medical Eponyms and Legacy
Lhermitte’s name is permanently attached to various clinical descriptions. These include Lhermitte-Duclos syndrome, involving cerebellar hypertrophy, and Lhermitte-Lévy syndrome, characterized by progressive paralysis following a stroke. He also defined Lhermitte-McAlpine syndrome and Lhermitte-Trelles syndrome. His career was marked by significant memberships in organizations including the Académie Nationale de Médecine, the Royal Society of Medicine, the American Neurological Association, and the Society of Biology. In 1943, he served as president, and in 1955, he was appointed Commander of the Legion of Honour.
Fast facts
- Born: 1877, Mont-Saint-Père, France
- Died: 1959, Paris, France
- Occupation: Neurologist and psychiatrist
- Education: Paris Medical Faculty
- Award: Commander of the Legion of Honour (1955)
- Professional Role: President (1943)
Questions readers ask
What is the Lhermitte sign?
It is an electric shock-like sensation felt in the spine and limbs triggered by neck flexion, often seen in multiple sclerosis patients.
Did Lhermitte receive high-level recognition for his medical work?
Yes, he was appointed as a Commander of the Legion of Honour in 1955.
Achievements
- Commander of the Legion of Honour — 1955
- Held posts at University of Paris
