The Eaton-Lambert myasthenic syndrome and long-term treatment with prednisolone.
A 34-year-old women with the Eaton-Lambert myasthenic syndrome was treated with prednisolone for over a year. Proximal muscle weakness and breathing difficulty due to weakness in the respiratory muscles showed improvements after long-term administration of prednisolone. Electrophysiological studies before treatment revealed decreased amplitudes of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP), a decrement in CMAP to low frequency nerve stimulation, an increment on high frequency stimulation and posttetanic facilitation over 300%. Following administration of prednisolone, these electrophysiological parameters became almost normal. This case suggests that immunosuppressive drugs such as prednisolone may have a place in the management of the patients with myasthenic syndrome, especially of those who has no evidence of malignant tumor.
D000200:Action Potentials; D000328:Adult; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors
D011239:Prednisolone