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Coexistence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Myasthenia Gravis

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Yamashita, Satoshi | Fujimoto, Akiko | Mori, Yukiko | Hirahara, Tomoo | Mori, Akira | Hirano, Teruyuki; | Maeda, Yasushi | Uchino, Makoto | Ando, Yukio

Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo, Kumamoto, Japan | Department of Internal Medicine 3rd, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Idaigaoka, Hasama, Yufu, Japan

Note: [] Correspondence to: Satoshi Yamashita, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan. Tel.: +81 96 373 5893; Fax: +81 96 373 5895; E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, coexistence, neuromuscular synapse, retrograde signaling

DOI: 10.3233/JND-140007

Journal: Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 111-115, 2014

Published: 2014
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Abstract

The mechanisms by which amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) causes motor neuron degeneration remain unknown. We present the case of a 77-year-old Japanese female with clinically probable ALS, who developed ALS symptoms 41 years after onset of myasthenia gravis (MG). We concluded that neither the relapse of MG nor the adverse effects of anti-cholinesterase medication aggravated her symptoms. Although MG and ALS are extremely rare, we reviewed several case reports describing their coexistence. We suggest that clinicians should consider the possibility of ALS occurring with MG. Further investigations will improve our understanding of the pathogenic relationship between ALS and MG.

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