Brynhildur Thors¹

Bjarni Guðmundsson²

¹Neurological department Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm
²Neurology department Landspitali-University Hospital.

Correspondence: Brynhildur Thors, bthors@gmail.com

 

Key words: Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, proximal weakness, neuromuscular junction disorder, repetitive nerve stimulation, paraneoplastic phenomenon.

Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) is a rare neurological disorder caused by autoimmune antibodies attacking the presynaptic neuromuscular junction, in some cases caused by underlying cancer. The main clinical finding is fluctuating weakness of the extremities and a triad of symtoms can help physicians suspect the disease. A key to the diagnosis are the electrophysiological abnormalities seen in this group of diseases. Treatment with symtomatic and/or immunosuppressive therapy is important as well as a workup for possible malignancy. This article identifies the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon disease.