Musk-antibody positive myasthenia gravis presenting with isolated neck extensor weakness.
Dropped head sign is characterized by the gradual forward sagging of the head due to weakness of neck extensor muscles. This may be a prominent sign of several neuromuscular disorders and may be an isolated feature of myasthenia gravis (MG). We describe a patient with isolated neck extensor weakness, eletrophysiological findings suggesting myasthenia gravis and positive MuSK antibodies. This case supports that finding anti-MuSK antibodies may be extremely helpful in dropped head patients and negative acetylcholine receptor antibodies especially if needle EMG does not reveal myopathic or neurogenic patterns.
Casasnovas
C
C
Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Feixa Llarga S/N 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. carloscasasnovas@csub.scs.es
Povedano
M
M
Jaumà
S
S
Montero
J
J
Martínez-Matos
J A
JA
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; C095714:MUSK protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases