1. Repetitive nerve stimulation of facial muscles in MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis.
- Author
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Oh SJ, Hatanaka Y, Hemmi S, Young AM, Scheufele ML, Nations SP, Lu L, Claussen GC, and Wolfe GI
- Subjects
- Action Potentials physiology, Adult, Antibodies analysis, Electric Stimulation, Electrophysiology, Facial Muscles physiology, Female, Humans, Male, Muscle, Skeletal innervation, Muscle, Skeletal physiopathology, Myasthenia Gravis physiopathology, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases immunology, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases physiology, Receptors, Cholinergic immunology, Receptors, Cholinergic physiology, Facial Muscles innervation, Myasthenia Gravis genetics, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases genetics, Receptors, Cholinergic genetics
- Abstract
To better define electrophysiological abnormalities in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodies (Ab), we compared electrophysiological features of 14 MuSK Ab-positive, 73 acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR Ab)-positive, and 22 MuSK and AChR Ab-negative (seronegative) patients with generalized disease. Repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) abnormalities were observed in 86% of MuSK Ab-positive and 82% of AChR Ab-positive patients but in only 55% of seronegative patients. RNS decrements in the orbicularis oculi were more common and severe in the MuSK Ab-positive patients than the other two groups. Single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) of the extensor digitorum communis was abnormal in 90% of MuSK Ab-positive patients. The high frequency of RNS abnormalities in facial muscles in the MuSK Ab-positive population reflects the propensity for facial muscle involvement in this form of MG and emphasizes the importance of including facial muscles in RNS protocols when evaluating these patients.
- Published
- 2006
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