Tag: Myasthenia gravis
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Myasthenia Gravis: The Workup
Here’s a workup for suspected myasthenia gravis: Acetylcholine receptor antibody Muscle specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody Chest CT (to look for thymoma) TSH (concomitant autoimmune thyroiditis is sometimes seen) Search for underlying infectious precipitants as guided by history (e.g., CBC, chest radiograph, urinalysis) Search for underlying concomitant metabolic derangements which may contribute to weakness…
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Weakness: An Approach
As a first step, neuromuscular weakness should be distinguished from its mimics, which are: Mental fatigue bradykinesia Decreased range of motion Depression Movement limited by pain. “Abnormal fatigability of striated muscle is the cardinal manifestation of disorders of the neuromuscular junction. Exercise-dependent weakness often affects the extraocular muscles first, causing ptosis or diplopia, as the…