Two Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome Patients with Ameliorated Activities of Daily Living Due to Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Hiroshi Yamasaki; Naonobu Futamura; Itaru Funakawa; Nobuo Kohara; Shunsuke Yoshimura; Masakatsu Motomura

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.7902-21

This article has now been updated. Please use the final version.

Two Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome Patients with Ameliorated Activities of Daily Living Due to Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Hiroshi Yamasaki, Naonobu Futamura, Itaru Funakawa, Nobuo Kohara, Shunsuke Yoshimura, Masakatsu Motomura

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Keywords: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), treatment algorithm, electrophysiological examination, 3,4-diaminopyridine, cholinesterase inhibitors

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS Advance online publication

Article ID: 7902-21

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.7902-21

The final version of this article is now available: Vol. 61 (2022), No. 7 pp. 1063-1065

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Abstract

We herein report two P/Q-type VGCC antibody-positive LEMS patients who responded dramatically to cholinesterase inhibitors. Patient 1, a 76-year-old man, had small-cell lung cancer and developed LEMS during chemotherapy. When symptomatic treatment was started with pyridostigmine, gait disturbance was ameliorated, and his modified Rankin scale decreased from 4 points to 3 points. Patient 2, a 68-year-old man, had cancer-free LEMS. Distigmine bromide was very effective and ameliorated not only his gait disturbance but also autonomic symptoms, and his modified Rankin scale decreased from 2 points to 1 point. Cholinesterase inhibitors alone may be effective in a small portion of LEMS patients.

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