title: A prospective assessment of the characteristics of dysphagia in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Fatigable muscle weakness is the clinical hallmark of the human autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis (MG). Weakness of the oropharyngeal muscles produces dysphagia, which continues to be a major source of morbidity in MG. In this study we prospectively assessed 20 patients with myasthenia gravis who described difficulties with swallowing. Videofluoroscopic assessment showed disordered swallowing in all, with abnormalities in oral, pharyngeal, and, to a lesser extent, oral preparatory phases. Of the 20 studied, 7 aspirated, most of whom did so silently. Laryngeal penetration occurred in many more patients. The characteristics of dysphagia in MG are described and compared with other neurological disorders that can produce dysphagia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colton-Hudson
authors.forename: Wilma J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: Taslim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moosa
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicolle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires