Dropped head syndrome as prominent clinical feature in MuSK-positive Myasthenia Gravis with thymus hyperplasia

Neuromuscul Disord. 2008 Feb;18(2):175-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2007.09.007. Epub 2007 Nov 28.

Abstract

MuSK-positive Myasthenia Gravis is in most cases clinically characterized by a progressive course with severe oculobulbar involvement or prominent neck, shoulder and respiratory muscle weakness. It is also distinguished from other forms of myastehnia through its lack of germinal centers or lymphocytic infiltrates in the thymic tissue. We present the case of a MuSK-positive female myasthenic patient with over four years slowly progressive weakness of the neck extensor muscles in the presence of thymus hyperplasia and discuss its uncommon and markedly focal clinical and electrophysiological features, as well as the excellent course under medication with pyridostigmine and prednisone, especially after thymectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Weakness / etiology
  • Muscle Weakness / immunology
  • Muscle Weakness / pathology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / complications
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / pathology*
  • Neck Muscles / pathology*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
  • Thymus Gland / immunology
  • Thymus Gland / pathology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • MUSK protein, human
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases