title: Eaton-Lambert myasthenic syndrome: two cases with typical and atypical features.
abstract: Eaton-Lambert myasthenic syndrome is a rare disorder of neuromuscular transmission. We are unaware of previous New Zealand reports and present two patients. Characteristic abnormalities in compound muscle action potential amplitude following repetitive nerve stimulation and on single fibre electromyography were present. Both patients also showed mild patchy abnormalities in peripheral nerve conduction. The clinical picture resembled Guillain-Barre syndrome in one patient who developed severe generalised weakness and respiratory failure. In both patients the neurological presentation lead to the recognition of a previously asymptomatic small cell lung carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Christchurch Hospital.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Avery
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Parkin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009520:New Zealand; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis; D013577:Syndrome