title: Chronic cough as the presenting symptom of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.
abstract: A patient had chronic, persistent cough as the presenting symptom of the neuromuscular disorder oculopharyngeal dystrophy (OPD). The presence of a significant smoking history initially resulted in the cough incorrectly being attributed to COPD. By using a systematic diagnostic approach, the correct etiology was determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Buckler
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pratter
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chad
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*