Myasthenic Crisis in an Elderly Patient with Positive Antibodies against Acetylcholine and Anti-MuSK, Successfully Treated with Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized by muscle weakness. Subjects with antibodies against acetylcholine usually have greater ocular symptoms, lower bulbar weakness, and fewer respiratory complications, compared to individuals with anti-MuSK antibodies. The presence of positivity...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: José A. Fernández, Antonio Fernández-Valiñas, Daniel Hernández, Joel Orozco, Antonio Lugo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Critical Care
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/624718
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832556571217887232
author José A. Fernández
Antonio Fernández-Valiñas
Daniel Hernández
Joel Orozco
Antonio Lugo
author_facet José A. Fernández
Antonio Fernández-Valiñas
Daniel Hernández
Joel Orozco
Antonio Lugo
author_sort José A. Fernández
collection DOAJ
description Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized by muscle weakness. Subjects with antibodies against acetylcholine usually have greater ocular symptoms, lower bulbar weakness, and fewer respiratory complications, compared to individuals with anti-MuSK antibodies. The presence of positivity to both types of antibodies in the same patient is uncommon, and the clinical behavior of these individuals is uncertain. A myasthenic crisis is characterized by respiratory and bulbar muscle weakness, causing acute respiratory failure which requires mechanical ventilatory support. We present the case of a 73-year-old man with a medical history of myasthenia gravis and positive antibody titers against acetylcholine and anti-MuSK, who sought for medical assessment because of respiratory tract infection symptoms, dysphagia, and generalized weakness. Initially, no respiratory distress was found. After 24 hours the patient showed respiratory deterioration and neurological impairment. Endotracheal intubation was rejected, so ventilatory support with noninvasive ventilation was started. The patient was supported by intense respiratory therapy, and infusion of immunoglobulin was initiated. The individual responded favorably, improving his general condition. Weaning from noninvasive mechanical ventilation was possible after six days. Our case illustrates that noninvasive ventilation, properly supported by intense respiratory therapy, can be a great option to avoid intubation in the myasthenic patient.
format Article
id doaj-art-bc0b958a83324c8084122ef8036c1aa3
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-6420
2090-6439
language English
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Case Reports in Critical Care
spelling doaj-art-bc0b958a83324c8084122ef8036c1aa32025-02-03T05:44:57ZengWileyCase Reports in Critical Care2090-64202090-64392015-01-01201510.1155/2015/624718624718Myasthenic Crisis in an Elderly Patient with Positive Antibodies against Acetylcholine and Anti-MuSK, Successfully Treated with Noninvasive Mechanical VentilationJosé A. Fernández0Antonio Fernández-Valiñas1Daniel Hernández2Joel Orozco3Antonio Lugo4Hospital Ángeles Clínica Londres, Durango No. 50, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, DF, MexicoHospital Ángeles Clínica Londres, Durango No. 50, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, DF, MexicoHospital Ángeles Clínica Londres, Durango No. 50, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, DF, MexicoHospital Ángeles Clínica Londres, Durango No. 50, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, DF, MexicoHospital Ángeles Clínica Londres, Durango No. 50, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, DF, MexicoMyasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized by muscle weakness. Subjects with antibodies against acetylcholine usually have greater ocular symptoms, lower bulbar weakness, and fewer respiratory complications, compared to individuals with anti-MuSK antibodies. The presence of positivity to both types of antibodies in the same patient is uncommon, and the clinical behavior of these individuals is uncertain. A myasthenic crisis is characterized by respiratory and bulbar muscle weakness, causing acute respiratory failure which requires mechanical ventilatory support. We present the case of a 73-year-old man with a medical history of myasthenia gravis and positive antibody titers against acetylcholine and anti-MuSK, who sought for medical assessment because of respiratory tract infection symptoms, dysphagia, and generalized weakness. Initially, no respiratory distress was found. After 24 hours the patient showed respiratory deterioration and neurological impairment. Endotracheal intubation was rejected, so ventilatory support with noninvasive ventilation was started. The patient was supported by intense respiratory therapy, and infusion of immunoglobulin was initiated. The individual responded favorably, improving his general condition. Weaning from noninvasive mechanical ventilation was possible after six days. Our case illustrates that noninvasive ventilation, properly supported by intense respiratory therapy, can be a great option to avoid intubation in the myasthenic patient.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/624718
spellingShingle José A. Fernández
Antonio Fernández-Valiñas
Daniel Hernández
Joel Orozco
Antonio Lugo
Myasthenic Crisis in an Elderly Patient with Positive Antibodies against Acetylcholine and Anti-MuSK, Successfully Treated with Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation
Case Reports in Critical Care
title Myasthenic Crisis in an Elderly Patient with Positive Antibodies against Acetylcholine and Anti-MuSK, Successfully Treated with Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation
title_full Myasthenic Crisis in an Elderly Patient with Positive Antibodies against Acetylcholine and Anti-MuSK, Successfully Treated with Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation
title_fullStr Myasthenic Crisis in an Elderly Patient with Positive Antibodies against Acetylcholine and Anti-MuSK, Successfully Treated with Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation
title_full_unstemmed Myasthenic Crisis in an Elderly Patient with Positive Antibodies against Acetylcholine and Anti-MuSK, Successfully Treated with Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation
title_short Myasthenic Crisis in an Elderly Patient with Positive Antibodies against Acetylcholine and Anti-MuSK, Successfully Treated with Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation
title_sort myasthenic crisis in an elderly patient with positive antibodies against acetylcholine and anti musk successfully treated with noninvasive mechanical ventilation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/624718
work_keys_str_mv AT joseafernandez myastheniccrisisinanelderlypatientwithpositiveantibodiesagainstacetylcholineandantimusksuccessfullytreatedwithnoninvasivemechanicalventilation
AT antoniofernandezvalinas myastheniccrisisinanelderlypatientwithpositiveantibodiesagainstacetylcholineandantimusksuccessfullytreatedwithnoninvasivemechanicalventilation
AT danielhernandez myastheniccrisisinanelderlypatientwithpositiveantibodiesagainstacetylcholineandantimusksuccessfullytreatedwithnoninvasivemechanicalventilation
AT joelorozco myastheniccrisisinanelderlypatientwithpositiveantibodiesagainstacetylcholineandantimusksuccessfullytreatedwithnoninvasivemechanicalventilation
AT antoniolugo myastheniccrisisinanelderlypatientwithpositiveantibodiesagainstacetylcholineandantimusksuccessfullytreatedwithnoninvasivemechanicalventilation