TITLE:
Severe Weight Loss and Dropped Head Syndrome in MuSK Myasthenia Gravis
AUTHORS:
Daniel Yu Bing Tan, Willem Hendrik Joseph Peter Linssen, Boris Liberov
KEYWORDS:
Myasthenia Gravis, Muscle Specific Receptor Thyrosine Kinase, Dropped Head Syndrome
JOURNAL NAME:
Case Reports in Clinical Medicine,
Vol.3 No.11,
November
13,
2014
ABSTRACT: Muscle Specific Receptor Thyrosine Kinase (MuSK) Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a rare auto-immune disorder of the neuromuscular junction. The clinical presentation of MG is dominated by fluctuating weakness of the extra-ocular, orofacial and limb muscles. The clinical presentation of MuSK MG can vary, which may delay diagnostic procedures. We present a patient who initially presented with severe weight loss and slowly progressive developing neck extensor weakness and diplopia. A single fiber EMG led to the diagnosis MG and antibodies directed towards MuSK were detected. He was treated with prednisone and the steroid sparing agent azathioprine after which he made full recovery.