title: Chloroquine myopathy and myasthenia-like syndrome.
abstract: A young woman on chronic corticosteroid treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus developed a myasthenia-like syndrome 7 weeks after starting chloroquine therapy. Discontinuation of chloroquine allowed symptomatic and immunological remission within 6 months. Ocular symptoms reappeared following a second short course of chloroquine. A motor-point biopsy revealed a vacuolar myopathy with membranous bodies in intramuscular nerves. We discuss the possible role of chloroquine in the pathogenesis of a myasthenia-like syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sghirlanzoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mantegazza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pareyson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cornelio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D002738:Chloroquine