title: Acute stridor due to bilateral vocal fold paralysis as a presenting sign of myasthenia gravis.
abstract: We describe a case of myasthenia gravis in a 46-year-old man presenting as acute stridor with bilateral abductor paralysis of the vocal folds. Prompt diagnosis and medical treatment with pyridostigmine avoided the need for tracheostomy. It is important to remember the possibility of myasthenia gravis in cases of stridor due to bilateral vocal fold paralysis, since effective medical treatment is available.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fairley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*