Myasthenia gravis in a young Papuan woman.
We report a case of myasthenia gravis in a young Melanesian woman. It is only the second case described from Papua New Guinea and the first in which antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor have been demonstrated. The patient's complaint of occasional dysarthria was initially dismissed as hysterical in nature due to her apparent normal speech on conversation. The true nature of her problem only became apparent when she was asked to read a prolonged monologue. Myasthenia gravis may present without involvement of the eye muscles and the diagnosis may only become apparent if muscle groups are specifically tested for fatiguability.
Trevett
A J
AJ
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby.
Nwokolo
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008542:Melanesia / Q000208:ethnology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide