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Lambert—Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in association with lymphoproliferative disorders
Author(s) -
Argov Zohar,
Shapira Yehuda,
AverbuchHeller Lea,
Wirguin Itzhak
Publication year - 1995
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.880180707
Subject(s) - lambert eaton myasthenic syndrome , medicine , myasthenia gravis , weakness , lymphoproliferative disorders , malignancy , electrophysiology , lymphoma , surgery
LEMS is a presynaptic neuromuscular junction disorder typically associated with small cell lung carcinoma. The characteristic electrophysiological abnormality is a low amplitude compound muscle action potential that shows a marked increment after short maximal contraction or brief tetanic nerve stimulation. Here we describe 3 patients who had LEMS in association with lymphoproliferative disorder. The first patient had Castleman's syndrome with typical clinical and electrophysiological features of LEMS, which responded partially to treatment with 3–4‐diaminopyridine. The second patient was a 7‐year‐old boy who had an unusual acute onset of LEMS associated with relapse of his Burkitt's leukemia. The third patient was a 60‐year‐old woman with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. These 3 patients (together with 6 additional patients identified in the literature) lead us to suggest that lymphoproliferative diseases are another, hitherto unrecognized, type of malignancy associated with LEMS. Thus, any patient with these malignancies and unexplained muscle weakness should have electrophysiological evaluation for LEMS. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.