Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of sporadic late-onset nemaline myopathy associated with myasthenia gravis positive for anti-titin antibody and anti-Kv1.4 antibody

Masahiro Kanatani, M.D.1), Tadashi Adachi, M.D., Ph.D.1), Ryoichi Sakata, M.D.1), Yasuhiro Watanabe, M.D., Ph.D.1) and Ritsuko Hanajima, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1) Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University

A 66-year-old woman who had myasthenia gravis (MG) admitted for type II respiratory failure and right heart failure. Although she had neither ptosis, eye movement disorder, nor diplopia, she had orbital muscles weakness, reduction of gag reflex, dysarthria, dysphagia, and mild proximal muscle weakness. Blood tests showed anti-striated muscle antibodies (anti-titin antibody and anti-Kv1.4 antibody). A muscle biopsy of the left biceps showed a marked variation in fiber size, mild mononuclear cell infiltration was seen surrounding blood vessels in perimysium and nemaline bodies in some fibers. Immunohistochemical stains showed many muscle fibers express HLA-ABC. The patient was diagnosed as sporadic late-onset nemaline myopathy (SLONM) with MG, and treated by tacrolimus. After treatment, her respiratory function gradually improved and she discharged. In the case of atypical MG, measurement of anti-striated muscle antibody or muscle biopsy should be considered.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (4429K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 60: 489|494, 2020)
key words: myasthenia gravis, anti-striated muscle antibody, sporadic late-onset nemaline myopathy, Good syndrome

(Received: 4-Feb-20)