Authors: Lin, Che-Sheng; Wang, Juei-Hsiang; Wang, Yen-Ho; Pan, Shin-Liang

Source: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, Volume 40, Number 8, September 2008 , pp. 684-686(3)

Publisher: Medical Journals Limited

Abstract:

Both myasthenia gravis and traumatic spinal cord injury are uncommon disorders and their concurrence is extremely rare. We report here the case of a man with stable myasthenia gravis with spinal cord injury due to a motor vehicle accident. His muscle strength and sensory function in all 4 limbs partially recovered during the initial hospitalization. However, after a later episode of pneumonia and urinary tract infection, muscle strength deteriorated and weakness of the ocular muscles occurred. A relapse of myasthenia gravis was confirmed by the elevated anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titre. Muscle strength recovered rapidly after control of infection and treatment of myasthenia gravis exacerbation. In this case report, we show that spinal cord injury-related complications, including infection or emotional stress, could trigger a relapse of myasthenia gravis. This highlights the importance of recognizing an exacerbation of myasthenia gravis in spinal cord injury patients with a history of myasthenia gravis, since they are prone to urinary and pulmonary infection. Although exacerbation of myasthenia gravis might prolong hospitalization, the functional outcome of spinal cord injury might not be affected if the exacerbation is diagnosed and treated quickly.

Keywords: SPINAL CORD INJURIES; MYASTHENIA GRAVIS; REHABILITATION

Document Type: Miscellaneous

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/16501977-0222

Publication date: 2008-09-01

More about this publication?

• Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine is the international peer-reviewed journal published in English, with at least 10 issues published per year.
  
  Original articles, reviews, case reports, short communications, special reports and letters to the editor are published, as also are editorials and book reviews. The journal strives to provide its readers with a variety of topics including: functional assessment and intervention studies, clinical studies in various patient groups, methodology in physical and rehabilitation medicine, epidemiological studies on disabling conditions and reports on vocational and sociomedical aspects of rehabilitation.
  
  The journal is read by a wide group of healthcare professionals including specialists in rehabilitation medicine, neurology, clinical neurophysiology, general medicine, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social workers.
  
  Contributions from all parts of the world and from different professions in rehabilitation are welcome.
  
  ISI Impact Factor 2009: 1.882.
  
  Owned by Foundation of Rehabilitation Information.

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