Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter
78
Normal muscle contraction and force production require the efficient transmission of an electrical impulse from a motor axon to the muscle fibers it innervates. The neuromuscular junction (NMJ), a specialized synapse with a complex structural and functional organization, is the site of electrochemical conversion of nerve impulses into muscle fiber action potentials. The NMJ is particularly vulnerable to autoimmune disorders caused by circulating immune factors (myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome), since it has no blood-nerve barrier. Genetic abnormalities and certain toxins may disrupt neuromuscular transmission (NMT) as well. Disorders of NMT produce several characteristic clinical syndromes, described in this chapter.
available, and treatment of most patients is effective with minimal long-term morbidity.
Myasthenia Gravis
Acquired myasthenia gravis (MG) is the most common primary disorder of NMT. In MG, the binding of autoantibodies to proteins, most commonly the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), disrupts normal NMT. This results in symptomatic muscle weakness that predominates in certain muscle groups and fluctuates in response to effort and rest. The basis for diagnosis is the recognition of a distinctive pattern of weakness on history and examination, and confirmation by diagnostic tests. Several potentially effective treatments are 2046
Chapter 78Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission 2047 tests may also fluctuate in diseases other than MG, especially if effort varies or testing causes pain. The symptoms of MG do not always vary, particularly in long-standing disease, which can make the diagnosis difficult.
Ocular Muscles
Most MG patients have weakness of ocular muscles (Box 78.1). (Videos of MG-related ocular phenomena [Videos 78.1 and 78.2] can be found at www.expertconsult.com.) Asymmetrical weakness of several muscles in both eyes is typical, the medial rectus being more frequently and usually more severely involved. The pattern of weakness is not loca lizable to lesions of one or more nerves, and the pupillary responses are normal. Ptosis is usually asymmetrical (Fig. 78.1) and varies during sustained activity. To compensate for ptosis, chronic contraction of the frontalis muscle produces a worried or surprised look. Unilateral frontalis contraction is a clue that the lid elevators are weak on that side (see Fig. 78.1). When mild, ocular weakness may not be obvious on routine examination and appear only upon provocative testing (i.e., sustained upward gaze). Eyelid closure is usually weak, even when strength is normal in all other facial muscles, and may be the only residual weakness in otherwise complete remission. This is usually asymptomatic unless it is severe enough to allow soap or water in the eyes during bathing. With moderate weakness of these muscles, the eyelashes are not buried during forced eye closure (Fig. 78.2). Fatigue in these muscles may result in slight involuntary opening of the eyes as the patient tries to keep the eyes closed; this is called the peek sign (see Fig. 78.2).
*
Fig. 78.1 Typical myasthenic facies. At rest (left), there is slight bilateral lid ptosis, which is partially compensated by asymmetrical contraction of the frontalis muscle, raising the right eyebrow. During attempted smile (right), there is contraction of the medial portion of the upper lip and horizontal contraction of the corners of the mouth without the natural upward curling, producing a sneer.
Fig. 78.3 Localization of immunoglobulin G (IgG) at a neuromuscular junction in acquired myasthenia gravis. The immune deposits appear on short segments of some junctional folds and on degenerate material in the synaptic space. (Reproduced from Engel, A.G., Lambert, E.H., Howard, F.M.,
1977a. Immune complexes (IgG and C3) at the motor endplate in myasthenia gravis: ultrastructural and light microscopic localization and electrophysiologic correlation. Mayo Clin Proc 52, 267-280, by permission.)
Limb Muscles
Weakness begins in limb or axial muscles in about 20% of MG patients (Kuks and Oosterhuis, 2004). Any trunk or limb muscle may be weak, but some are more often affected than others. Neck flexors are usually weaker than neck extensors, and the deltoids, triceps, and extensors of the wrist and fingers and ankle dorsiflexors are frequently weaker than other limb muscles. Rarely, MG presents initially with focal weakness in single muscle groups, such as a dropped head syndrome due to severe neck extensor weakness or isolated vocal cord or respiratory muscle weakness. In untreated patients with longstanding disease, weakness may be fixed, and severely involved muscles may be atrophic, giving the appearance of a chronic myopathy; this is particularly likely in muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodypositive MG (see MuSK Antibody Myasthenia Gravis, later in this chapter).
Fig. 78.2 Peek sign in myasthenia gravis. During sustained forced eyelid closure, patient is unable to bury his eyelashes (left), and after 30 seconds, he is unable to keep the lids fully closed (right). (Reproduced from
Sanders, D.B., Massey, J.M., 2008. Clinical features of myasthenia gravis, in: Engel, A.G. (Ed.), Handbook of Clinical Neurology, vol 91: Neuromuscular Junction Disorders. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 229-252 [Fig. 5], by permission.)
Oropharyngeal Muscles
Oropharyngeal muscle weakness causes changes in the voice, difficulty chewing and swallowing, and inadequate maintenance of the upper airway. The voice may be nasal, especially after prolonged talking, and liquids may escape through the nose when swallowing because of palatal muscle weakness. Weakness of laryngeal muscles causes hoarseness. A history of frequent choking or throat clearing or coughing after eating indicates difficulty in swallowing. Respiratory dysfunction and isolated dysphagia (without dysarthria) are rarely the initial symptoms of MG. Myasthenic patients may have a characteristic facial appearance. At rest, the corners of the mouth often droop downward, giving a depressed appearance. Attempts to smile often produce contraction of the medial portion of the upper lip and a horizontal contraction of the corners of the mouth without the natural upward curling, which gives the appearance of a sneer (see Fig. 78.1). Manually opening the jaw against resistance shows jaw weakness; this is not possible when strength is normal. The patient may support a weak jaw (and neck) with the thumb under the chin, the middle finger curled under the nose or lower lip, and the index finger extended up the cheek, producing a studious or attentive appearance.
Chapter 78Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission 2049 The remaining so-called double-seronegative patients have no known antibodies by conventional assays, even though they may improve with immunosuppressive treatments, plasma exchange, or even thymectomy. Recently, low-affinity IgG antibodies have been found in about two-thirds of MG patients who were seronegative using conventional anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibody assays (Leite et al., 2008). These antibodies bind to AChRs that have been clustered into high-density arrays, suggesting that they have relatively low affinity and cannot bind strongly to AChR in solution but do bind to immobilized AChRs in a native conformation. A B
Fig. 78.4 Ultrastructural localization of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the muscle end-plate in a control subject (A) and in a patient with generalized myasthenia gravis (B). The AChR staining seen in A is virtually absent in B, in which only short segments of simplified postsynaptic membrane react. (Reproduced from Engel, A.G., Lindstrom, J.M.,
Lambert, E.H., et al., 1977b. Ultrastructural localization of the acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis and its experimental autoimmune model. Neurology 27, 307-315 [Fig. 3A/B], by permission.)
immunoglobulin (Ig)G into mice, and clinical improvement follows removal of circulating antibodies by plasma exchange (see Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis, later in this chapter). T-lymphocytes play a pivotal role in the initiation and maintenance of the autoimmune response against the AChR complex. However, the precise mechanism by which this response initiates and is maintained is incompletely understood. Activation of T cells is through the T-cell receptor by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules bound with antigenic peptide, but full activation requires the presence of a second signal (costimulatory molecules). Potentially autoreactive T cells are normally controlled by a variety of immune regulatory mechanisms, including regulatory T cells, which are likely deficient or dysfunctional in MG. Patients with MG have increased numbers of CD4+ T cells, which regulate the production of AChR antibody (AChR-Ab). The subunit of AChR contains the majority of T-cell recognition sites. These recognition sites may be different from those of the main immunogenic region that binding antibodies recognize. Sensitization to CD4+ T-cells spreads across the AChR complex as the disease progresses and most MG patients have T cells that recognize multiple epitopes on the AChR -subunit (Conti-Fine et al., 1997). This epitope spread drives the synthesis of anti-AChR antibodies and accounts for the large and varied antibody repertoire of the myasthenic patient. Approximately 10% of MG patients (up to 50% of antiAChR-negative, generalized MG patients) have circulating antibodies to MuSK, a surface membrane component essential in the development of the neuromuscular junction. These anti-MuSK antibodies adversely affect the maintenance of AChR clustering at the muscle end-plate, leading to reduced numbers of functional AChRs. The precise pathophysiology of the weakness and prominent muscle atrophy in anti-MuSK MG is unknown. Muscle biopsy studies have shown little AChR loss, but no detailed studies of NMT in the most affected muscles are available. The events leading to autosensitization to MuSK are unknown, but the thymus gland is probably not involved.
Hyperplasia Normal
Male-to-female ratio = 1:3 Antititin, ryanodine antibodies associated with severe disease May be associated with other paraneoplastic disorders
Thymoma
Neoplasia
None identified
MuSK
Normal
DR14 DQ5
Marked female predominance; selective oropharyngeal, facial, respiratory weakness in some ?Unidentified autoantigen in those without low-affinity antibodies
Seronegative (generalized)
Variable
Hyperplasia in some
None identified
Reproduced with permission from Meriggioli, M.N., Sanders, D.B., 2009. Autoimmune myasthenia gravis: emerging clinical and biological heterogeneity. Lancet Neurol. 8, 475-490. AChR, Acetylcholine receptor; HLA, human leukocyte antigen; MuSK, muscle-specific tyrosine kinase.
Confirmation of the diagnosis of OMG may be a challenge, as RNS studies and anti-AChR antibodies are often negative, and single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) testing may be required.
Sanders, 2010) and have recently been reported in OMG as well (Bau et al., 2006; Caress et al., 2005). The reported incidence of MuSK-antibody myasthenia gravis (MMG) varies among geographic regions, the highest being closer to the equator and the lowest closer to the poles (Vincent and Lang, 2006). Genetic or environmental factors (or both) presumably play a role in these differences. MMG predominantly affects females and begins from childhood through middle age. In some patients, the clinical findings are indistinguishable from anti-AChR-positive MG, with fluctuating ocular, bulbar, and limb weakness. However, many MMG patients have predominant weakness in cranial and bulbar muscles, frequently with marked atrophy of these muscles (Fig. 78.5). Others have prominent neck, shoulder, and respiratory weakness, with little or no involvement of ocular or bulbar muscles. Electrodiagnostic abnormalities may not be as widespread as in other forms of MG, and it may be necessary to examine different muscles to demonstrate abnormal NMT (Stickler et al., 2005). The potentially more limited distribution of physiological abnormalities also may limit the interpretation of microphysiological and histological studies in MMG, inasmuch as the muscles usually biopsied for these studies may be normal. Many MMG patients do not improve with cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs); some actually become worse, and many have profuse fasciculations with these medications (Hatanaka et al., 2005). Disease severity tends to be worse, but most improve dramatically with PLEX or corticosteroids (Sanders et al., 2003). More immunosuppression is typically necessary, though long-term outcome is generally good (Guptill and Sanders, 2010). Thymic changes are absent or minimal (Lauriola et al., 2005; Leite et al., 2005), and the role of thymectomy in MMG is not yet clear (Guptill and Sanders, 2010; Sanders et al., 2003). The diagnosis of MMG may be elusive
Fig. 78.6 Edrophonium test in myasthenia gravis. Before testing (left) there is marked ptosis of the left lid and lateral deviation of the left eye, and the jaw must be supported. Within 5 seconds after injection of 0.1mg edrophonium (right), function of both lids and left medial rectus are improved. (Reproduced from Sanders, D.B., Massey, J.M., 2008. Clinical
features of myasthenia gravis, in: Engel, A.G. (Ed.), Handbook of Clinical Neurology, vol 91: Neuromuscular Junction Disorders. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 229-252 [Fig. 10], by permission.)
Fig. 78.5 Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodypositive myasthenia gravis with marked upper facial muscle weakness and atrophy. At rest (upper left), there is slight bilateral lid ptosis. There is no visible (or palpable) contraction of the frontalis muscle on attempted elevation of the eyebrows (upper right), and patient does not bury the eyelashes during forced eyelid closure (lower left). Tongue is markedly wasted (lower right).
(Reproduced from Sanders, D.B., Massey, J.M., 2008. Clinical features of myasthenia gravis, in: Engel, A.G. (Ed.), Handbook of Clinical Neurology, vol 91: Neuromuscular Junction Disorders. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 229-252 [Fig. 16], by permission.)
FCGR2, CHRNA1) have also been found to be associated with MG; some are also associated with other autoimmune diseases and thus may represent a nonspecific susceptibility to autoimmunity. An exception to this is the CHRNA1 gene, which encodes the subunit of the AChR and may provide pathogenetic clues specific for MG (Meriggioli and Sanders, 2009).
when the clinical features, electrodiagnostic findings, and response to ChEIs differ from typical MG.
2052 Part IIINeurological Diseases 3.3 mg for ptosis and 2.6 mg for ocular muscle dysfunction (Kupersmith et al., 2003). The lowest effective dose can be determined by injecting small incremental doses up to a maximum total of 10 mg. Inject an initial test dose of 2 mg, and monitor the response for 60 seconds. Subsequent injections of 3 and 5 mg may then be given, but if clear improvement is seen within 60 seconds after any dose, the test is positive, and no further injections are necessary (see Video 78.1). Weakness that develops or worsens after injection of 10 mg or less also indicates an NMT defect, as this dose will not weaken normal muscle. Common side effects of edrophonium are increased salivation and sweating, nausea, stomach cramps, and fasciculations. Serious complications (bradyarrhythmia or syncope) have been reported in only 0.16% of edrophonium tests (Ing et al., 2005). These symptoms generally resolve with rest in the supine position. Atropine (0.4-2mg) should be available for intravenous (IV) injection if bradycardia is severe. Some patients who do not respond to IV edrophonium may improve after injection of neostigmine methylsulfate, 0.5mg intramuscularly (IM) or subcutaneously (SQ), which has a longer duration of action. Onset of action after IM injection is 5 to 15 minutes. The longer duration of action is particularly useful in children. site on the subunit of the AChR. In most patients, relatively few of the circulating antibodies recognize this site, resulting in a lower sensitivity for this assay. These blocking antibodies occur in less than 1% of MG patients who do not have measurable binding antibodies and thus have limited diagnostic value. AChR antibodies cross-link the AChRs in the membrane and increase their rate of degradation. The AChR-modulating antibody assay measures the rate of loss of labeled AChR from cultured human myotubes. About 10% of MG patients who do not have elevated binding antibodies have AChRmodulating antibodies. Many patients with thymomatous MG have high levels of AChR-modulating antibodies, often exceeding 90% loss of AChR (Vernino and Lennon, 2004). ANTISTRIATIONAL MUSCLE ANTIBODIES Antistriational muscle antibodies (StrAbs), which react with contractile elements of skeletal muscle, were the first autoantibodies discovered in MG. These antibodies recognize muscle cytoplasmic proteins (titin, myosin, actin, and ryanodine receptors), and are found in 75% to 85% of patients with thymomatous MG. Titin is a very large filamentous protein essential for muscle structure, function, and development; most of the thymoma-associated antibodies against striated muscle are against titin. The ryanodine receptor (RyR) is a calcium release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle. Anti-RyR antibodies occur in 75% of MG patients with thymoma but may also be present in LOMG patients without thymoma. StrAbs are not pathogenic and are also found in one-third of patients with thymoma who do not have MG and in onethird of MG patients without thymoma. They are more frequent in older MG patients and in those with more severe disease, suggesting that disease severity is related to a more vigorous humoral response against multiple muscle antigens (Romi et al., 2005). StrAbs are rarely elevated in MG in the absence of AChR antibodies and are therefore of limited use in confirming the diagnosis. The main clinical value of StrAbs is in predicting thymoma: 60% of patients with MG with onset before age 50 who have elevated StrAbs have thymoma. However, titin and other striational antibodies are detectable in up to 50% of elderly patients with non-thymomatous MG, so these antibodies are less helpful as predictors of thymoma in patients older than age 60. Elevated StrAbs are also present in autoimmune liver disease and infrequently seen in Lambert-Eaton syndrome and in primary lung cancer. ANTI-MUSK ANTIBODIES Antibodies to MuSK are present in up to 50% of GMG patients who are seronegative for AChR antibodies and in some patients with OMG (see MuSK-Antibody Myasthenia Gravis, earlier).
Chapter 78Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission 2053 this test to have high sensitivity and specificity in MG, suggesting that it may be useful in patients with lid ptosis, particularly if the edrophonium test is negative or contraindicated (Larner, 2004).
least 10% to trains of 2- to 3-Hz stimulation (see Chapter 32B). This may be present at baseline or after a period of exercise (postactivation exhaustion). Although a seemingly simple test, careful attention to proper technique is important to avoid technical errors. The sensitivity of RNS for diagnosing MG reportedly ranges from 53% to 100% in GMG and 10% to 48% in OMG (Meriggioli and Sanders, 2004; Stlberg et al., 2010). RNS is more likely to be abnormal in a proximal or facial muscle and in clinically weak muscles. For maximal diagnostic yield, test several muscles, particularly those that are weak. If RNS is normal and there exists a high suspicion for an NMJ disorder, perform SFEMG of at least one symptomatic muscle. SFEMG (see Chapter 32B) is the most sensitive clinical test of NMT and shows increased jitter in some muscles in almost all patients with MG (Stlberg et al., 2010). Jitter is greatest in weak muscles but is usually abnormal even in muscles with normal strength. Sixty percent of patients with OMG show increased jitter in a limb muscle, but this does not predict the subsequent development of generalized myasthenia. In the rare patient who has weakness restricted to a few limb muscles, only a weak muscle may show abnormal jitter. This is particularly true in some patients with MMG (Stickler et al., 2005) (see MuSK-Antibody Myasthenia Gravis, earlier). Increased jitter is a nonspecific sign of abnormal NMT and can occur in other motor unit diseases. Therefore, when jitter is increased, perform other electrodiagnostic tests to exclude neuronopathy, neuropathy, and myopathy. Normal jitter in a weak muscle excludes abnormal NMT as the cause of weakness. Recently, measuring jitter with concentric needle electrodes (CNE) has been proposed as an alternative to the specially designed (reusable) single-fiber electrode (Stlberg and Sanders, 2009). Interpret the results with caution, particularly in borderline cases, as signals recorded with the CNE may represent the summation of more than one single-fiber action potential, which will decrease the apparent jitter.
Ocular Cooling
Myasthenic weakness typically improves with muscle cooling. This is the basis of the ice-pack test, in which cooling of a ptotic lid improves lid elevation. Assess improvement in ptosis after placing an ice pack over the ptotic eyelid, usually for 2 minutes. Positive responses can occur even when edrophonium tests are negative. A meta-analysis of six studies showed
AChR-Ab, Acetylcholine receptor antibody; MuSK, muscle-specific tyrosine kinase; RNS, repetitive nerve stimulation; Sens, sensitivity; SFEMG, single-fiber electromyography. *Only if ptosis is present.
Tacrolimus
4-8 weeks
Cyclophosphamide Rituximab
2-4 weeks ??
Modified from Meriggioli, M.N., Sanders, D.B., 2009. Autoimmune myasthenia gravis: emerging clinical and biological heterogeneity. Lancet Neurol 8, 475-490.
NOTE: These values are approximations only. Appropriate doses should be determined for each patient based on the clinical response.
requires close medical supervision and long-term follow-up. Consider the return of weakness after a period of improvement as a herald of further progression requiring reassessment of current treatment and evaluation for underlying systemic disease or thymoma.
neostigmine is 0.3mg/kg (Table 78.4). Pyridostigmine is available as syrup (60mg/5mL) for children or for nasogastric tube administration in patients with impaired swallowing. A timed-release tablet of pyridostigmine (180mg) is useful as a bedtime dose for patients who are too weak to swallow in the morning. Its absorption is erratic, however, leading to possible overdosage and underdosage, and it is not useful during waking hours. No fixed dosage schedule suits all patients. The need for ChEIs varies from day to day and during the same day. Different muscles respond differently; with any dose, some muscles get stronger, others do not change, and still others may become weaker. The drug schedule should be titrated to produce an optimal response in muscles causing the greatest disability. Patients with oropharyngeal weakness may require doses timed to provide optimal strength during meals. Aim
Chapter 78Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission 2055 Specific removal of circulating anti-AChR pathogenic factors may be accomplished using immunoadsorption columns, some of which use immobilized AChR to remove autoantibodies from MG serum. Further development of this technique may provide a more efficient and safer alternative to PLEX. INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN Improvement in MG occurs in 50% to 100% of MG patients after infusion of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), typically given at a dose of 2g/kg given over 2 to 5 days. Improvement usually begins within 1 week and lasts for several weeks or months. Class I evidence supports the use of IVIG to treat patients with refractory exacerbations of MG (Donofrio et al., 2009), but there is little evidence to advise the clinician on the proper dosing of IVIG and duration of therapy. A recent double-blind placebo-controlled trial in MG patients with worsening weakness showed that IVIG induced rapid improvement in muscle strength, but this effect was more pronounced and likely more clinically significant in patients with moderate to severe MG (Zinman et al., 2007). IVIG induces rapid improvement in patients with severe disease or crisis, reduces perioperative morbidity prior to surgery, and may be used chronically in selected refractory patients. IVIG may be particularly useful as an alternative to PLEX in children with limited vascular access. Although IVIG has demonstrated similar efficacy to PLEX in the treatment of MG exacerbations, it is unclear whether it is as effective in true MG crisis, since the published comparison studies generally used suboptimal PLEX regimens and did not directly compare onset of improvement. Common side effects of IVIG include headaches, chills, and fever, which usually improve if infusion rates are slowed. Serious side effects are rare but include renal toxicity, stroke, leukopenia, and aseptic meningitis. Lyophilized forms of IVIG may be associated with greater prevalence of adverse events in patients with neuromuscular diseases (Nadeau et al., 2010).
for a dose that provides definite improvement in the most important muscle groups within 30 to 45 minutes and which wears off before the next dose. Acute overdosage may cause cholinergic weakness of respiratory muscles and apnea. Adverse effects of ChEIs result from ACh accumulation at muscarinic receptors on smooth muscle and autonomic glands and at nicotinic receptors of skeletal muscle. Central nervous system side effects are rare with the doses used to treat MG. Gastrointestinal complaints are common: queasiness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, loose stools, and diarrhea. Increased bronchial and oral secretions may be a serious problem in patients with swallowing or respiratory insufficiency. These symptoms of muscarinic overdosage may indicate that nicotinic overdose (weakness) is also occurring. Drugs that suppress the gastrointestinal side effects include loperamide hydrochloride, propantheline bromide, glycopyrrolate, and diphenoxylate hydrochloride with atropine. Some of these drugs themselves produce weakness at high dosages. Bromism, presenting as acute psychosis, is a rare complication of large amounts of pyridostigmine bromide. Measurement of the serum bromide level confirms the diagnosis. Some patients are allergic to bromide and develop a rash even at modest doses; for these patients, ambenonium chloride is an alternative medication. Preliminary studies of an antisense oligonucleotide (EN101) that blocks expression of a splice isoform of acetylcholinesterase have been published (Sussman et al., 2008). The drug appears to be safe and the beneficial effects long lasting many hours compared to 3 to 5 hours for pyridostigmine. Further studies are ongoing.
2056 Part IIINeurological Diseases usually within 2 weeks. Then taper the dose over many months to the smallest amount necessary to maintain improvement, which is ideally less than 20mg every other day. The rate of dose decrease is individualized; patients who have a rapid initial response may reduce the dose on alternate days by 20mg each month to 60mg every other day. If the initial response is less dramatic, it may be preferable to change to an alternate-day dose of 100 to 120mg and taper this by 20mg each month to 60mg every other day, then taper the dose more slowly to a target dose of 10mg every other day as long as improvement persists. If any weakness returns during dose reduction, the dose should be increased, another immunosuppressant should be added, or both, to prevent further worsening. Stopping the drug almost invariably leads to return of weakness, but a very low dose (5-10mg every other day) may be sufficient to maintain good improvement in many patients. Transitory worsening of weakness occurs in approximately one-third to half of patients treated with high-dose daily prednisone (Pascuzzi et al., 1984). This usually begins within the first 7 to 10 days with high prednisone doses and lasts for several days. In mild cases, ChEIs usually manage this worsening. However, hospitalization or administration of PLEX or IVIG during steroid initiation is advisable in patients with significant oropharyngeal or respiratory symptoms. An alternative approach favored by some is to begin prednisone with 20mg/day and increase the dose by 10mg every 1 to 2 weeks until improvement begins. The dose is maintained until improvement is maximum, and then tapered as above. Exacerbations still may occur with this protocol, but the onset of such worsening and the therapeutic response are less predictable. A similar dose schedule is common in OMG (see Ocular Myasthenia Gravis, later in this chapter). Prednisone is inexpensive, has a quick onset of response, and an established track record in MG, but its use is limited by the numerous and frequent side effects (Table 78.5), the severity and frequency of which increase when high doses are given for more than 1 month. Most side effects improve with dose reduction and become minimal at less than 20mg every other day. A low fat, low-sodium diet, and exercise will minimize the weight gain associated with prednisone use. Supplemental calcium and vitamin D with bisphosphonate therapy are useful to counter osteopenia, particularly in postmenopausal women. Treat patients with peptic ulcer disease or symptoms of gastritis accordingly. Prednisone is contraindicated in patients with untreated tuberculosis. Prednisone given with azathioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), or other immunosuppressant drugs may produce more benefit than either drug alone (see next section, Immunosuppressant Drugs). IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT DRUGS Several immunosuppressant drugs are reportedly effective in MG (see Table 78.3). Azathioprine (AZA) is a purine antimetabolite that interferes with T- and B-cell proliferation and is the nonsteroidal immunosuppressant with the longest track record in MG. It improves weakness in most patients, but benefit may not be apparent for 6 to 12 months. The initial dose is 50mg/day, which increases by 50mg/day every 7 days to a total of 150 to 200mg/day (2-3mg/kg/day). After achieving maximum benefit, slowly taper the dose to the minimal effective dose, which may be as low as 50mg/day. Symptom recurrence follows discontinuation or reduction below the minimal effective dose. Patients may respond better and more rapidly when starting prednisone concurrently. An idiosyncratic reaction with flulike symptoms occurs within 10 to 14 days after starting AZA in 15% to 20% of patients; this reaction requires stopping the drug. The use of divided doses after meals or by dose reduction minimizes gastrointestinal irritation. Leukopenia and even pancytopenia can occur at any time during treatment but are not common. Liver toxicity is also possible and heralded by elevations in the serum transaminases. To guard against this, monitor complete blood cell counts and liver enzymes every week during the first month, every 1 to 3 months for a year, and every 3 to 6 months thereafter. Reduce the dose if the peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count falls below 3500 cells/mm3, and then gradually increase after the WBC count rises. Stop the drug immediately if counts fall below 1000 WBC/mm3. Also discontinue treatment if the serum transaminase concentration exceeds twice the upper limit of normal, and restart at lower doses after values become normal. There are rare reports of AZA-induced pancreatitis, but the cost-effectiveness of monitoring serum amylase concentrations is not established. MMF selectively blocks purine synthesis, thereby suppressing both T- and B-cell proliferation. Pilot studies and retrospective series indicate efficacy in MG (Hehir et al., 2010; Meriggioli et al., 2003). However, data from two randomized controlled trials failed to show additional benefit of MMF over 20mg daily prednisone as initial immunotherapy of MG (The Muscle Study Group, 2008) and did not show a significant steroid-sparing effect of MMF in patients on prednisone (Sanders et al., 2008). Several factors have been cited as possible explanations for these negative results, including the generally mild disease of the patients, the better-than-expected response to relatively low-dose daily prednisone, and the short duration of the studies (Sanders and Siddiqi, 2008). The clinical efficacy of MMF in MG remains an open question, but it continues to be widely used in the treatment of MG as monotherapy or as a steroid-sparing agent, mainly because many experts are convinced that it is effective, and it has a favorable side-effect profile. The typical MMF dose is 1000mg twice daily, but doses up to 3000mg/day have been used. In general, side effects are
Chapter 78Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission 2057 Evoli, 2010). Prednisone was used in the great majority of these patients, and AZA was the first-choice nonsteroidal immunosuppressant; MMF and CYA were used as secondchoice agents. Treatment was ultimately discontinued in nearly 20% of anti-AChR-Ab-positive EOMG patients, but in only 7% of thymoma cases. The risk of complications was related to drug dosage, treatment duration, and patient characteristics, the highest rate of serious side effects (20%) occurring in LOMG and the lowest (4%) in early-onset disease. Effective use of immunosuppressants in MG requires a long-term commitment; few patients maintain improvement unless continuing therapy at effective doses. The long-term risk of malignancy is not established, so use the minimal maintenance dose of immunosuppressant medications required to keep the MG in control.
relatively mild and most commonly consist of diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain. However, PML has occurred in patients treated with MMF, although most patients were on multiple nonsteroidal immunosuppressant medications. Cyclosporine (CYA) is a potent immunosuppressant that binds to the cytosolic protein, cyclophilin (immunophilin), of immunocompetent lymphocytes, especially T lymphocytes. This complex of CYA and cyclophilin inhibits calcineurin, which activates transcription of interleukin 2 (IL-2). It also inhibits lymphokine production and interleukin release and leads to reduced function of effector T cells. Retrospective analyses have reported improvement in most MG patients taking CYA, with or without corticosteroids (Ciafaloni et al., 2000). Many medications interact with CYA and must be avoided or used with caution. Hypertension and cumulative renal toxicity are common reactions of CYA, and we use this agent in MG only when other immunosuppressants are contraindicated or ineffective. The initial dose of CYA is 5 to 6mg/kg in two divided doses 12 hours apart. Measure the serum trough level of CYA after 1 month, and adjust the dose to produce a CYA concentration of 75 to 150ng/mL. Monitor blood pressure and serum creatinine monthly, and adjust the dose to keep the creatinine below 150% of pretreatment values. Thereafter, measure the serum creatinine concentration at least every 2 to 3 months, more frequently if a medication is started known to interact with CYA. Improvement begins within 2 to 3 months in most patients; maximum improvement requires 6 months or longer. As with AZA, prednisone may be started simultaneously with CYA, and the dose tapered or discontinued altogether after CYA has become effective. Then taper the CYA dose to the minimum effective dose, which may be as little as 50mg/day. Recent reports indicate that tacrolimus (FK506) may be effective in the treatment of MG (Evoli et al., 2002; Ponseti et al., 2005), including a randomized (though unblinded) study in 36 de novo MG patients (Nagane et al., 2005). Use of doses from 3 to 5mg/day have a favorable side effect profile. Tacrolimus is in the same class of immunosuppressants as CYA, with a similar mechanism of action. It appears to be less nephrotoxic than CYA at doses used in published MG reports, but hyperglycemia due to transcriptional inhibition of insulin is relatively common in transplant patients receiving tacrolimus. Pending further study, it should be considered as adjunctive therapy in refractory MG and as a steroid-sparing agent in patients intolerant or unresponsive to AZA, MMF, and CYA. Cyclophosphamide (CP) given IV in monthly pulsed doses has been used in severe refractory GMG (de Feo et al., 2002; Drachman et al., 2002). In a randomized controlled trial, patients with refractory MG had improved muscle strength and reduced steroid requirement after pulsed doses of IV CP (500mg/m2). There are reports of therapeutic responses in refractory MG after a one-time, high-dose (50mg/kg) IV course of CP for 4 days, followed by rescue therapy. Side effects of CP are common and potentially serious and include myelosuppression, hemorrhagic cystitis, and an increased risk for infection and malignancy. For this reason, CP should be reserved for patients with truly refractory severe disease. In a recent review of 1000 MG patients who received immunosuppressants for at least 1 year, all forms of MG benefited from immunosuppression: the rate of remission or minimal manifestations (Jaretzki et al., 2000) ranged from 85% in OMG to 47% in thymoma-associated disease (Sanders and
Thymectomy
Suspected thymoma requires surgical resection regardless of age. In addition to removing all tumor tissue, remove any residual normal thymus tissue via an extended complete thymectomy. Since most patients will require long-term immunosuppression, it is reasonable to begin treatment (e.g., AZA with steroids) before or immediately after surgery. Thymectomy is widely used as treatment for nonthymomatous MG, although no prospective controlled study of efficacy exists. Based on review of existing studies, the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology concluded that MG patients undergoing thymectomy are twice as likely to attain medication-free remission, 1.6 times as likely to become asymptomatic, and 1.7 times as likely to improve (Gronseth and Barohn, 2000). However, the authors expressed uncertainty as to whether the observed improvement was due to thymectomy or explicable by differences in baseline characteristics. Their practice recommendations were that for patients with nonthymomatous autoimmune MG, thymectomy is recommended as an option to increase the probability of remission or improvement. An international prospective single-blinded randomized trial of thymectomy in nonthymomatous MG is currently ongoing, and will hopefully clarify this issue (Newsom-Davis et al., 2008). The response to thymectomy is unpredictable, and impairment may continue for months or years after surgery, even in patients who do ultimately improve. The best responses are in young people, especially women, early in the disease, but improvement can occur even after many years of symptoms. The preferred surgical approach has traditionally been a transthoracic sternal-splitting procedure that allows wide exploration of the anterior mediastinum. Transcervical and endoscopic approaches have less postoperative morbidity and shorter recovery times but may not allow sufficient exposure for total thymic removal and are not recommended when there is a thymoma. However, it has yet to be determined whether the extent of thymic removal determines outcome in nonthymomatous MG. Robotic video-assisted thorascopic thymectomy combines the advantages of minimally invasive techniques with added maneuverability and enhanced visualization, which reportedly permits an extended thymectomy similar to that using a transsternal approach. Without a prospective study comparing different techniques, the value of different surgical approaches remains unclear. In nonthymomatous MG, we recommend thymectomy in virtually all early-onset anti-AChR-positive MG patients, and
2058 Part IIINeurological Diseases as an option in anti-AChR-positive MG with onset between ages 40 to 60. Others also recommend thymectomy for older patients. AChR-antibody-negative patients also may improve after thymectomy, some to the point of remission, and we do not base the decision to perform thymectomy on the presence or level of these antibodies alone. The role of thymectomy in MuSK antibodypositive MG has not yet been determined. We consider repeat thymectomy when relapse follows a good response to the initial surgery or if there is concern that thymic tissue removal had been incomplete. MRI with appropriate cardiac gating may be useful in identifying residual thymus tissue, although many authors believe that the clinical suspicion should be the basis upon which repeat surgery is considered (Jaretzki, 2003). Thymectomy is generally not a recommendation for ocular MG, but these patients also may improve after thymectomy. mellitus before corticosteroid treatment, 6% have thyroid disease, 3% have an extrathymic neoplasm, and less than 2% have rheumatoid arthritis. Reports of MG cases related to human immunodeficiency virus and after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation suggest a more than coincidental relationship. Extrathymic malignancies have been reported to be common in MG patients, especially in the older age group, possibly owing to a common background of immune dysregulation (Levin et al., 2005).
Evolving Treatments
Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the B-cell surface marker, CD20. Case reports and small case series suggest that MG patients, particularly those with antiMuSK antibodies, may improve after treatment with rituximab (Guptill and Sanders, 2010; Meriggioli and Sanders, 2009). Controlled trials are needed in both anti-AChR and anti-MuSK-positive disease. A single case series reports improvement in MG following treatment with etanercept (recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor:Fc) (Tuzun et al., 2005). Patients with lower pretreatment plasma IL-6 and interferon (IFN)- levels responded better. The mechanism of action in MG is unknown, and its role in treatment is yet unproven. Complement inhibition has been shown to be effective in experimental MG (Soltys et al., 2009), and clinical trials in human MG are underway. Autologous stem cell transplantation has been performed in refractory MG patients (Pringle and Atkins, 2005), but the role of this procedure for MG and other autoimmune disorders is unclear at this time.
Chapter 78Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission 2059 fall below 70mmHg. Humidify the inspired gas to at least 80% at 37C to prevent drying of the tracheobronchial tree. Remove tracheal secretions periodically using aseptic aspiration techniques. Low-pressure, high-compliance endotracheal tubes may be tolerable for long periods and usually obviate the need for tracheostomy. Many case series report short-term benefit from PLEX and IVIG in myasthenic crisis. Retrospective studies suggest that both are equally effective in disease stabilization (Murthy et al., 2005). Others suggest that PLEX is superior, producing more rapid respiratory improvement (Qureshi et al., 1999). We recommend PLEX in the treatment of crisis except when there is hemodynamic instability, sepsis, coagulopathy, or during the first trimester of pregnancy. Once ventilated, discontinuing ChEIs is safe and recommended. This eliminates the possibility of cholinergic overdose and permits determination of disease severity. After addressing the precipitating factors causing crisis, add ChEIs in low doses and titrate to the optimal dose. When respiratory strength improves, begin the weaning from the respirator for 2 or 3 minutes at a time, and increase as tolerated. Consider extubation when the patient has a NIF greater than 20cm H2O and an expiratory pressure greater than 35 to 40cm H2O. The tidal volume should exceed 5mL/kg; this usually corresponds to a vital capacity of at least 1000mL. If the patient complains of fatigue or shortness of breath, defer extubation even if these values and blood gas measurements are normal. Prevention and aggressive treatment of medical complications offer the best opportunity to improve the outcome of myasthenic crisis.
aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides. Ophthalmic preparations of beta-blockers and aminoglycoside antibiotics may cause worsening of ocular symptoms. Never use d-penicillamine, because it can induce MG. When using corticosteroids to treat concomitant illness, anticipate and explain the potential adverse and beneficial effects to the patient. MG may develop in patients during IFN-2b treatment for malignancy and chronic active hepatitis C. In some, MG has presented with myasthenic crisis. The mechanism is unknown, but the expression of IFN- at motor end-plates of transgenic mice results in weakness and abnormal NMJ function that improve with ChEIs. This suggests an autoimmune humoral response, similar to that in human MG. The administration of botulinum toxin injections to patients with neuromuscular disease such as MG risks systemic side effects including dysphagia and respiratory compromise. Administer only with great caution. We recommend annual vaccination against influenza (including H1N1) for most patients with MG. Vaccination against pneumococcus is a recommendation for at-risk patients before starting prednisone or other immunosuppressive drugs. Never give live attenuated vaccines to immunosuppressed patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that those taking less than 2mg/kg/day of prednisone or every-other-day prednisone are not at risk. Patients with prior thymectomy should not receive the yellow fever vaccine.
2060 Part IIINeurological Diseases steroid-associated exacerbation is less in OMG. In OMG, use a maintenance dosage of corticosteroids that does not significantly suppress the immune system and causes few major systemic adverse effects. Consider a steroid-sparing agent if this is not the case. In general, OMG is not an indication for thymectomy, but this may be effective in some patients. worsening is more common in first pregnancies, whereas third-trimester worsening and postpartum exacerbations are more common in subsequent pregnancies. Complete remission may occur late in pregnancy. The clinical status at onset of pregnancy does not reliably predict the course during pregnancy. Pregnancy is more difficult to manage at the beginning of MG, and women with MG should delay pregnancy until after the disease is stable. Therapeutic abortion is rarely if ever needed because of MG, and the frequency of spontaneous abortion is not increased. Oral ChEIs are the first-line treatment during pregnancy. Intravenous ChEIs may produce uterine contractions and are contraindicated. Prednisone is the immunosupp ressive agent of choice. We do not use immunosuppressive drugs during pregnancy because of theoretical potential mutagenic effects, although others feel that AZA and even CYA can be used safely during pregnancy (Ferrero et al., 2005). Increased risk of fetal malformation has been reported when men used AZA prior to conception (Norgard et al., 2004). MMF can cause birth defects and is contraindicated during pregnancy. PLEX or IVIG are useful when requiring an immediate (albeit temporary) improvement during pregnancy, but avoid PLEX during the first trimester. Magnesium sulfate has neuromuscular blocking effects and is not recommended to manage preeclampsia. Barbiturates usually provide adequate treatment. Labor and delivery are usually normal. Cesarean section is useful only for obstetrical indications. Regional anesthesia is preferred for delivery or cesarean section. MG does not affect uterine smooth muscle and therefore does not compromise the first stage of labor. In the second stage, voluntary muscles are at risk for easy fatigue, and outlet forceps or vacuum extraction may be necessary. In our experience, breastfeeding is not a problem for myasthenic mothers, despite the theoretical risk of passing maternal AChR antibodies in breast milk to the newborn.
Myasthenia Gravis
d-Penicillamine is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Wilson disease, and cystinuria. Rarely, patients treated with d-penicillamine for several months develop a myasthenic syndrome that resolves after stopping the drug. d-Penicillamineinduced myasthenia is usually mild and often restricted to the ocular muscles. Often the diagnosis is unsuspected because severe arthritis may hide the weakness. Establishing the diagnosis is from the response to ChEIs, characteristic EMG abnormalities, and elevated AChR antibodies. It is likely that d-penicillamine stimulates or enhances an immunological reaction against the neuromuscular junction. ChEIs usually relieve the symptoms. The myasthenic response induced by d-penicillamine usually remits within a year after stopping the drug. If myasthenic symptoms persist thereafter, treat the patient as for acquired MG.
Pregnancy
Myasthenia may improve, worsen, or remain unchanged during pregnancy. It is common for the first symptoms of MG to begin during pregnancy or postpartum. First-trimester
with the half-life of neonatal antibodies. It is not clear why some newborns develop weakness and others with equally high antibody concentrations do not. Some mothers with antibodies directed specifically against fetal AChR might themselves be asymptomatic, which makes diagnosis of TNMG more difficult. Examine all infants born of myasthenic mothers carefully at birth. Detection of AChR antibodies in the child provides strong evidence for the diagnosis, although seronegative mothers have delivered affected seronegative infants. Improvement following injection of 0.1mg/kg of edrophonium supports the diagnosis of TNMG, but it may be hard to assess the response to edrophonium in an intubated and ventilated neonate. Improvement after edrophonium does not distinguish TNMG from some congenital myasthenic syndromes. A decremental response to RNS confirms abnormal NMT but also does not distinguish TNMG from many congenital myasthenic syndromes. Affected newborns require symptomatic treatment with ChEIs if swallowing or breathing is impaired. Consider exchange transfusion if respiratory weakness is severe.
2062 Part IIINeurological Diseases shows a decremental response. Repetitive discharges appear after single nerve stimulations, similar to those seen in ChEI toxicity or congenital deficiency of end-plate acetylcholinesterase (see later discussion). The underlying defect is a prolonged open time of the ACh channel. Quinidine sulfate and fluoxetine, which reduce AChR channel open time, may improve strength in this condition (Harper et al., 2003). primary pulmonary disease (Barr et al, 1993; Smith and Wald, 1996). Symptoms usually begin after age 40, but LES can occur in children. Males and females are equally affected. Approximately one-half the patients have an underlying malignancy in 80% this is small-cell lung cancer (SCLC)which may be discovered years before or years after the onset of symptoms. Examination usually demonstrates less weakness than the symptoms suggest. Tendon reflexes are almost always absent or diminished. Strength (and tendon reflexes) may facilitate briefly after exercise and then weaken with sustained activity, but this is not a universal finding. The response to edrophonium is not as robust or consistent as in MG. The weakness in LES is not usually life threatening and more closely resembles cachexia, polymyositis, or a paraneoplastic neuromuscular disease.
DOK-7 Mutations
DOK-7 is a muscle protein that activates MuSK and is critical in end-plate development and AChR aggregation. Some CMS patients with this mutation were previously characterized as having limb-girdle myasthenia, but the clinical manifestations of CMS associated with DOK-7 mutations may also be indistinguishable from patients with AChR deficiency (Selcen et al., 2008), including reduced fetal movements in utero and static and fatigable weakness of cranial, respiratory, and limb muscles. The electrodiagnostic findings are also indistinguishable from patients with congenital AChR deficiency. Response to ChEIs is variable, with some patients improving but many demonstrating no response. Ephedrine and 3,4-DAP may produce modest benefit.
Lambert-Eaton Syndrome
LES results from an immune-mediated attack against the P/Qtype voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) on presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminals at the neuromuscular junction and in autonomic ganglia (Fig. 78.6). LES, first described in patients with lung cancer (CA-LES), also occurs as an organspecific autoimmune disorder in the absence of cancer (NCA-LES). LES is usually clinically quite distinct from MG. Most patients report gradual onset of lower-extremity weakness, sometimes with muscle tenderness. Dry mouth is a common symptom of autonomic dysfunction; other features are erectile dysfunction, postural hypotension, constipation, and dry eyes. Ocular and bulbar symptoms are generally not prominent (ONeill et al., 1988; Tim et al., 2000; Wirtz et al., 2002), but are reported in some patients in a pattern suggesting MG (Burns et al., 2003; Titulaer et al., 2008). Prolonged apnea and ventilator dependence may follow use of neuromuscular blocking agents for surgery (Anderson et al., 1953), but respiratory failure is otherwise uncommon in the absence of
Chapter 78Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission 2063 especially during the first 2 years after symptom onset. Determine the frequency of reevaluation by the patients cancer risk factors. Tailor therapy to the individual, based on the severity of weakness, underlying disease, life expectancy, and response to previous treatment. Randomized controlled trials have shown that 3,4-DAP and IVIG improve muscle strength scores and CMAP amplitudes in patients with LES (Maddison and Newsom-Davis, 2005; McEvoy et al., 1989; Oh et al., 2009; Sanders et al., 2000; Wirtz et al., 2009). Other treatments such as PLEX, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive agents, including rituximab (Maddison et al., 2010), may be of benefit in some patients but have not been tested in controlled trials. The following treatment plan for LES is a general guide that should be modified to suit specific situations. ChEIs improve strength in occasional LES patients. Try pyridostigmine, 30 to 60mg, every 6 hours for several days. In some patients, the major benefit is relief of dry mouth. Guanidine hydrochloride improves strength in many LES patients, but severe toxicity limits its use. Divide the initial oral dose of 5 to 10mg/kg daily into 3 doses, 4 to 6 hours apart, and increase as needed to a maximum of 30mg/kg/day. Bone marrow depression is a major risk and may occur with doses as low as 500mg/day. Do not increase the dose more often than every 3 days; the maximum response may not occur for 2 to 3 days. Concomitant use of pyridostigmine, 30 to 60mg, every 4 to 6 hours, enhances the therapeutic response to guanidine. Other side effects include renal tubular acidosis, chronic interstitial nephritis, cardiac arrhythmia, hepatic toxicity, pancreatic dysfunction, paresthesias, ataxia, confusion, and alterations of mood. Patients receiving guanidine require monthly blood tests. Administering 3,4-DAP facilitates release of ACh from motor nerve terminals and produces clinically significant improvement of strength and autonomic symptoms in most LES patients (Tim et al., 2000). Therapeutic responses occur with doses of 5 to 25mg 3 to 4 times a day; seizures may occur at doses higher than 100mg/day. Concomitant use of pyridostigmine, 30 to 60mg, 3 or 4 times a day enhances the response to 3,4-DAP. Side effects usually are negligible. Transitory perioral and digital paresthesias occur with doses greater than 10 to 15mg. Cramps and diarrhea may occur when 3,4-DAP is given with pyridostigmine and can be minimized by reducing the dose of pyridostigmine; 3,4-DAP is a safe and effective treatment for LES but is not available for general clinical use in the United States. It is available for individual patients upon submission of a Treatment-Use Investigational New Drug application by the administering physician. Information on the application process can be obtained from Jacobus Pharmaceutical Co., Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, Fax No. 609-799-1176. Both PLEX and IVIG provide short-term improvement in some patients with LES (Tim et al., 2000), but the results are usually not as good as in MG. If these treatments are not effective, it must be determined if weakness is sufficiently severe to warrant immunotherapy with prednisone, AZA, CYA, or rituximab. In patients with severe weakness, use PLEX or IVIG first, and add prednisone and AZA after improvement begins. Maintaining improvement may require repeated courses of treatment. In LES patients with cancer, the response to cancer therapy determines the prognosis. In patients without cancer,
Fig. 78.7 Freeze-fracture electron micrographs of presynaptic membrane P-faces. Top, Control muscle. Active zones tend to be aligned along an arc (arrow). Some zones display fewer than four rows of particles (arrowhead) (98,000). Bottom, Lambert-Eaton syndrome muscle. Membrane leaflet shows active zones (arrows) and clusters of large intramembrane particles (arrowheads) (59,800). (From Fukunaga, H.,
Engel, A.G., Osame, M., et al., 1982. Paucity and disorganization of presynaptic membrane active zones in the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Muscle Nerve 5, 686-697 [Figs 2A, 4], by permission.)
concentrations of VGCC. In CA-LES, the neuroectodermal antigens expressed by SCLC cells mimic VGCC and induce production of VGCC antibodies as a paraneoplastic syndrome. In NCA-LES, as in other primary autoimmune disorders, the presumption is that altered self-tolerance induces production of VGCC antibodies as part of a more general immunemediated state. VGCC antibody titers do not correlate with disease severity among individuals, but the antibody levels may fall as the disease improves in patients receiving immunosuppression.
2064 Part IIINeurological Diseases treatment with immunosuppression produces improvement in many patients, but most require substantial and continuing doses of immunosuppressive medications (Maddison et al., 2001).
Botulism
Botulism is caused by a toxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, that blocks the release of ACh from the motor nerve terminal (Cherington, 2007). The result is a long-lasting severe muscle paralysis. Botulism usually follows ingestion of inadequately sterilized contaminated foods. Of eight types of botulinum toxins (A, B, C, C, D, E, F, and G), types A and B are the cause of most cases of botulism in the United States. Transmission of type E is in seafood. All forms of the toxin block ACh release from the presynaptic motor nerve terminal and the parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve ganglia. The intracellular target is the SNARE proteins of the presynaptic membrane. Neuromuscular symptoms usually begin 12 to 36 hours after ingestion of contaminated food and are preceded by nausea and vomiting. Not all people who ingest the contaminated food become symptomatic. Clinical botulism occurs in five forms: classic or foodborne, infantile, wound, hidden, and iatrogenic. The most common form in the United States is wound botulism, which occurs predominantly in drug abusers after SQ injection of heroin. Clostridium bacteria colonize the injection site and release toxin that produces local and patchy systemic weakness.
Not all patients with botulism demonstrate all these electrophysiological findings. The diagnosis is unlikely in patients having none of these features. High-frequency RNS may show pseudofacilitation without true posttetanic facilitation, but SFEMG demonstrates markedly increased jitter and blocking in virtually every case (Padua et al., 1999). Jitter and blocking may decrease as the firing rate increases, but this is not a consistent finding. Botulinum toxin injections used for the treatment of focal dystonia have produced focal or regional weakness including diplopia, dysphagia, urinary incontinence, focal weakness, brachial plexopathy, and the unmasking of LES and motor neuron disease. SFEMG demonstrates increased jitter in muscles remote from the site of injection, which persists for many months.
Chapter 78Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission 2065 often there is an initial augmentation of ACh release, followed by depletion of neurotransmitter. Presynaptic toxins tend to be more potent than those that act postsynaptically. Postsynaptic -neurotoxins produce a curare-like, nondepolarizing neuromuscular block that is variably reversible. Most venoms contains both types of neurotoxins, although one type may predominate. Marine neurotoxins affecting the NMJ are rare and come primarily from poisonous fish (stonustoxin), a few mollusks (conotoxins), and dinoflagellates. Most marine intoxications result from ingestion. With some marine toxins, there is an increase in the concentration of toxin through successive predatory transvection up the food chain. Heavy-metal intoxication is a rare cause of neuromuscular toxicity. Ingestion of bread made from flour from grain contaminated with methylmercury fungicide produces weakness with characteristic decremental responses and partial reversal with ChEIs. Organophosphates impair NMT by irreversibly inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, producing a depolarizing neuromuscular block. A defect in NMT may be a cause of weakness in critically ill patients and is often due to administration of drugs such as antibiotics, antiarrhythmics, and nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (Gorson, 2005). Prolonged use of these agents may result in weakness due to persistent neuromuscular blockade even hours or days after discontinuation. NMT may also be impaired in motor unit diseases that do not primarily affect the NMJ. For example, patients with ALS may have fluctuating weakness that responds to ChEIs, a decrementing response to RNS, and increased jitter and blocking on SFEMG. Reports of features attributable to abnormal NMT in syringomyelia, poliomyelitis, peripheral neuropathy, and inflammatory myopathy exist.
Treatment of Botulism
Treatment consists of administration of bivalent (type A and B) or trivalent (A, B, and E) antitoxin. Antibiotic therapy is not effective, since the cause of symptoms (in all but infantile botulism) is the ingestion of toxin rather than organisms. In infantile botulism, IV human botulism immune globulin (BIG-IV) neutralizes the toxin for several days after illness onset, shortens the length and cost of the hospital stay, and reduces the severity of illness (Arnon et al., 2006). Otherwise, treatment is supportive. ChEIs are usually not beneficial; 3,4-DAP may improve strength but not respiratory function. With improvements in intensive care, the mortality rate has declined to about 20%. Depending on initial severity of illness, recovery may be quite prolonged, with many patients continuing to have symptoms a year or longer after the onset of illness.
References
The complete references list is available online at www. expertconsult.com.