Single-fiber electromyography during menstrual exacerbation and ovulatory suppression in MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis

Muscle Nerve. 2007 Jun;35(6):808-11. doi: 10.1002/mus.20734.

Abstract

We report a patient with muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody-positive myasthenia gravis who experienced worsening of myasthenic weakness associated with alterations in estrogen and progesterone levels during the administration of oral contraceptive therapy. Single-fiber electromyography was performed to document changes in neuromuscular transmission associated with the clinical exacerbation and subsequent resolution of the menstrual exacerbation and clinical improvement experienced with continuous monophasic oral contraceptive therapy. The potential long-term benefit of ovulatory suppression in MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis is discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / pharmacology*
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / therapeutic use
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Menstrual Cycle / immunology*
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle Contraction / immunology
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / immunology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / immunology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / innervation
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / diagnosis*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / physiopathology*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / drug effects*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / immunology
  • Neuromuscular Junction / physiopathology
  • Ovulation Inhibition / immunology*
  • Progesterone / metabolism
  • Progesterone / pharmacology
  • Progesterone / therapeutic use
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Progesterone
  • MUSK protein, human
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Acetylcholine