title: MRI evidence of early muscle atrophy in MuSK positive myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Muscle atrophy, particularly of facial and bulbar muscles, seems to be a relatively common long-term consequence of musclespecific tyrosine kinase-myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG), perhaps reflecting the chronic state of disease or long-term therapy with corticosteroids. We performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess muscle wasting in the facial and bulbar muscles in two female MuSK-MG patients, with short duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis and prior to commencement of steroid therapy. The study revealed marked atrophy of temporalis, masseters, and lingual muscles with fatty replacement. MRI evidence of early muscle atrophy in MuSK-MG may indicate that MuSK antibodies per se may predispose to muscle atrophy.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece. vzouvelu@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zouvelou
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rentzos
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toulas
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Evdokimidis
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; C095714:MUSK protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases