[Is there true remission in myasthenia gravis? Long-term clinical and electrophysiological studies].

Twenty myasthenic patients were followed up who had in the years 1981-1982 full clinical remission (no drugs, no symptoms), lasting at that time at least several years. However, in 19 of them neuromuscular transmission defects were then found by single fibre electromyography (SFEMG). We then concluded that true remissions did not exist in myasthenia (J.

[Dysphonia as the first sign of myasthenia gravis].

Ten cases of myasthenia are presented in which dysphonia was the initial sign. Isolated signs of dysphonia continued for several months or years, presenting diagnostic difficulties. Eventually neurologic examination followed by electrophysiological investigation (classical repetitive nerve stimulation and single fibre EMG) as well as edrophonium test allowed proper diagnosis of myasthenia, then confirmed by the clinical course.

[Diagnostic difficulties in a case of mitochondrial myopathy in a 51-year-old woman].

A case of mitochondrial myopathy in a 51-year-old woman is reported. External ophthalmoplegia, presence of persistent thymus and electrophysiologic investigation suggested myasthenia gravis. Electron microscopic examination of muscle biopsy showed changes typical of mitochondrial myopathy.

[Myasthenia preceded by dysphonia. Clinical and electrophysical study].

The solely dysphonia symptom as atypical and relatively rare onset of myasthenia gravis is difficult to diagnose. We present 11 cases of myasthenia, where dysphonia was one and only one symptom of illness during several months to several years. The evidences of dysphonia were the fatigability and nasality of speech, as well as chronic hoarseness.

Human muscle acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit gene (CHRNA1) association with autoimmune myasthenia gravis in black, mixed-ancestry and Caucasian subjects.

We have sought associations with the muscle acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit gene (CHRNA1) in autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) patients from three ethnic groups; Caucasians and South Africans of Black and Mixed-Ancestry. We found a significant association with the HB*15 CA repeat allele in unrelated Black myasthenics (n = 18; RR = 2.85; pX2 = 0.