title: Palliative care for a patient with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: role of 3,4-diaminopyridine.
abstract: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is an uncommon autoimmune idiopathic or paraneoplastic syndrome producing antibodies against voltage presynaptic calcium channels. According to previous studies, many patients with LEMS experience remission in both the clinical symptoms of muscle weakness and the electrophysiologic abnormalities after successful treatment of lung SCC. However, some patients might not respond to conventional therapy and eventually require palliative care. Hereby, we reported a LEMS patient with advanced lung malignancy was referred for palliative care. He was benefited from multidisciplinary approach even with limited survival. In this case, use of 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP) had other roles apart from symptomatic treatment.
authors: Palliative Medical Unit, Grantham Hospital, 125 Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, China. cky842@yahoo.com.hk.
authors: Kwok-Ying
authors: KY
authors: Chan
authors: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Richard Shek-Kwan
authors: RS
authors: Chang
authors: Palliative Medical Unit, Grantham Hospital, 125 Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Vikki Wai-Kee
authors: VW
authors: Lau
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Kowloon Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Man-Lui
authors: ML
authors: Chan
authors: Palliative Medical Unit, Grantham Hospital, 125 Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Theresa
authors: T
authors: Lai
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000077770:Amifampridine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015624:Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019452:Terminally Ill; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D000077770:Amifampridine
keywords: 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP); Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS); palliative care; psycho-spiritual distress