Electromyographic abnormalities in patients undergoing long-term therapy with etretinate.
Neuromuscular evaluation including electromyographic studies and serum muscle enzyme level determinations were performed in 13 patients who had been receiving etretinate for 1 to 2 1/2 years. None of the patients had complained of muscle pains or weakness. In 3 of 13 patients the electromyographic studies showed low amplitude and short duration action potentials. Mild muscular weakness was detected in one of these three. The levels of serum muscle enzymes were within the normal range in all patients. Results suggest that etretinate may cause subclinical muscle damage. In view of our results and previous reports, it seems that neuromuscular evaluation should be part of the routine follow-up of patients receiving long-term therapy with etretinate.
David
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Beilinson Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Hodak
E
E
Sandbank
M
M
Gadoth
N
N
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D005050:Etretinate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
D005050:Etretinate