Hostname: page-component-7b9c58cd5d-7g5wt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-03-15T10:43:17.866Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Acute stridor due to bilateral vocal fold paralysis as a presenting sign of myasthenia gravis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

James W. Fairley  and
Marianne Hughes
James W. Fairley*
Affiliation:
Sheffield
Marianne Hughes
Affiliation:
Sheffield
*
Mr James W. Fairley, Senior Registrar, ENT Department, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We describe a case of myasthenia gravis in a 46-year-old man presenting as acute stridor with bilateral abductor paralysis of the vocal folds. Prompt diagnosis and medical treatment with pyridostigmine avoided the need for tracheostomy. It is important to remember the possibility of myasthenia gravis in cases of stridor due to bilateral vocal fold paralysis, since effective medical treatment is available.

Keywords

Myasthenia gravisStridorVocal fold paralys
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 106 , Issue 8 , August 1992 , pp. 737 - 738
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1992

References

Breyer-Pfaff, U., Schmezer, A., Maier, U., Brinkmann, A., Schumm, F. (1990) Neuromuscular function and plasma drug levels in pyridostigmine treatment of myasthenia gravis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 53: 502–506.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Calcaterra, T. C., Stern, E., Herrmann, C. Jr., Mulder, D. G. (1972) The otolaryngologist's role in myasthenia gravis. Transactions of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, 76: 308–312.Google Scholar
Colp, C, Kriplani, L., Nussbaum, M. (1980) Vocal cord paralysis in myasthenia gravis following anesthesia. Chest, 11: 218–220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fonseca, V., Havard, C. W. (1990) The natural course of myasthenia gravis. British Medical Journal, 300: 1409–1410.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Foulks, C. J. (1981) Myasthenia gravis presenting as laryngeal stridor after exposure to chlorine gas. Southern Medical Journal, 74: 1423–1424.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mier, A., Laroche, C., Green, M., (1990) Unsuspected myasthenia gravis presenting as respiratory failure. Thorax, 45: 422–423.Google Scholar
Schmidt-Nowara, W. W., Marder, E. J., Feil, P. A. (1984) Respiratory failure in myasthenia gravis due to vocal cord paresis. Archives in Neurology, 41: 567–568.Google Scholar
Steinman, L., Mantegazza, R. (1990) Prospects for specific immunotherapy in myasthenia gravis. FASEB Journal, 4: 2726–2731.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed