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Myokymia, neuromyotonia, dermatomyositis, and voltage‐gated K + channel antibodies
Author(s) -
Oh Shin J.,
Alapati Anjaneyulu,
Claussen Gwen C.,
Vernino Steven
Publication year - 2003
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/mus.10369
Subject(s) - myokymia , neuromyotonia , dermatomyositis , fasciculation , medicine , electromyography , antibody , dermatology , anesthesia , immunology , psychiatry
A young woman presented with facial myokymia in association with dermatomyositis. There was no evidence of peripheral neuropathy. Needle electromyography showed prominent myokymic discharges and brief neuromyotonic discharges in addition to many small‐amplitude, short‐duration motor unit potentials. Myokymia and dermatomyositis both responded to immunosuppressive treatment. The presence of antibodies to voltage‐gated potassium channels and the association with dermatomyositis indicated an autoimmune cause for myokymia, which may have been due to reversible peripheral nerve hyperexcitability. Muscle Nerve 27: 757–760, 2003