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Stiff‐persons' syndrome associated with thymoma and subsequent myasthenia gravis
Author(s) -
Nicholas Anthony P.,
Chatterjee Anjan,
Arnold Muoi M.,
Claussen Gwendolyn C.,
Zorn George L.,
Oh Shin J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199704)20:4<493::aid-mus13>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - myasthenia gravis , thymoma , thymectomy , medicine , anesthesia , ocular myasthenia , surgery
We report the first case of stiff‐persons' (‐man) syndrome in the setting of a histologically proven thymoma. Muscular hyperactivity was abolished under general anesthesia and the symptoms of stiffness resolved after thymectomy and three courses of intravenous immunoglobulins. After thymectomy, the patient developed ocular myasthenia gravis which later resolved spontaneously. We suggest that thymoma be sought for in cases with neuromuscular hyperactivity syndromes. Myasthenia gravis may develop subsequently in these cases. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve , 20, 493–498, 1997