Acquired neuromyotonia in a patient with spinal epidural abscess.

Abstract

We report a case of acquired neuromyotonia in a patient with Staphylococcus aureus septicemia and a spinal epidural abscess. Autoantibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels, which are associated with acquired neuromyotonia, were present during the patient's acute illness but became undetectable on clinical recovery. The spinal epidural abscess may have triggered the production of these specific autoantibodies, resulting in clinically and electromyographically detectable neuromyotonia.

• Authors: P Maddison, N Lawn, K R Mills, A Vincent, M Donaghy
• Journal: Muscle & nerve (Muscle Nerve) Vol. 21 Issue 5 Pg. 672-4 (May 1998) ISSN: 0148-639X [Print] United States
• PMID: 9572254 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Potassium Channels

Topics

• Abscess (complications)
• Autoantibodies (analysis)
• Bacteremia (complications)
• Electromyography
• Electrophysiology
• Epidural Space
• Humans
• Ion Channel Gating (physiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myotonia (diagnosis, etiology, immunology)
• Peripheral Nervous System Diseases (complications)
• Potassium Channels (immunology, physiology)
• Spinal Diseases (complications)
• Staphylococcal Infections (complications)