title: Ocular myasthenia gravis: predictive value of single-fiber electromyography.
abstract: Extraocular muscle weakness is the most common presenting sign of myasthenia gravis (MG). More than half of patients presenting with symptoms isolated to these muscles (OMG) develop generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG) over the course of their illness. No clinical, laboratory, or electrophysiological features are recognized that identify these high-risk patients. We have therefore assessed the ability of single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) to predict the development of GMG in patients presenting with OMG. Thirty-nine consecutive patients presenting with OMG underwent SFEMG of the extensor digitorum communis muscle as well as a battery of other laboratory and imaging studies at the time of diagnosis. All patients were followed prospectively for a minimum of 24 months or until they developed GMG. Two patients were excluded, leaving 37 for assessment. Twenty remained with pure OMG for the entire follow-up period (mean, 55 months). Twenty-six of the 37 had abnormal SFEMG studies at presentation. Eleven of these remained with OMG and 15 developed GMG. Fifty-eight percent of patients with an abnormal SFEMG developed GMG, whereas 82% of those with a normal study remained with OMG. Thus, a normal SFEMG was associated with MG remaining restricted to the extraocular muscles. (P = 0.036, Fisher's exact test), but an abnormal SFEMG was not predictive of subsequent development of GMG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02135, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kneeland
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies