Stimulated single-fiber electromyography in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome

Muscle Nerve. 1991 Dec;14(12):1227-30. doi: 10.1002/mus.880141215.

Abstract

The Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular transmission. Electrodiagnosis is confirmed by an increase in compound muscle action potential amplitude during high-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation or following brief exercise. We describe the results of stimulated single-fiber electromyography in 4 patients with disorders of neuromuscular transmission: LEMS (2), LEMS/myasthenia gravis (MG) overlap (1), and MG (1). Stimulated SFEMG was performed in the extensor digitorum communis muscle with axonal intramuscular suprathreshold stimulation at low and high rates. In all 4 patients, a rate dependence of jitter was found. In LEMS and LEMS/MG, jitter and blocking improved with high stimulation rates, as compared with the opposite effect in MG. We conclude that stimulated SFEMG is a valuable technique in the diagnosis of LEMS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Neurons / physiology
  • Muscles / innervation*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / diagnosis
  • Myasthenia Gravis / physiopathology
  • Neuromuscular Junction / physiology*
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology