Royal Australasian College of Physicians Examinations/Resources/Clinical Exam/Short Cases/Example Cases/Myaesthenia Gravis
Myaesthenia GravisEdit
Stem: Please examine this person's eyes.
Key FeaturesEdit
- Ptosis – may be asymmetrical. Worse after sustained upward gaze
- Diplopia (+/- ophthalmoplegia) with sustained upward gaze
- Bulbar weakness -> dysarthria (counting back from 20 to 1)
- Neck extensor weakness
Proceed toEdit
- Proximal arm weakness with fatiguability
- Look for thymectomy scar
- Ask for spirometry / RFTs
PresentationEdit
This patient has clinical features of myaesthenia gravis; evidenced by bilateral ptosis and diplopia on upward gaze; weakness of neck extension and fatiguability of shoulder abductors with a median sternotomy scar that suggests a previous thymectomy.