Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-2-6
pubmed:abstractText
We studied two families with five affected members suffering from ptosis and slowly progressive limb-girdle muscle weakness. All patients had abnormal decremental response on low-frequency nerve stimulation, but there were no repetitive responses to single stimuli. The patients improved on anti-acetylcholinesterase drugs. Intercostal muscle was obtained for special studies from one patient of each family. In vitro microelectrode studies were done in Patient 1. Miniature end-plate potentials were of low amplitude, and the quantal content of the evoked end-plate potentials was normal. Light microscopy revealed a marked type 1 fiber predominance. Acetylcholinesterase reactivity was dispersed over increased length of individual fibers in Patient 2. On morphometry of the end-plate ultrastructure, the number of secondary synaptic clefts per neuromuscular junction and the expansion of the postsynaptic area were markedly reduced. In Patient 1, but not in Patient 2, the envelopment of the nerve terminal by Schwann cell was increased. Acetylcholine-receptor (AChR) density was reduced as judged by the reduced immunoreactivity to antibodies against different receptor subunits. Immunohistochemical analysis of proteins known to be involved in orchestrating the end-plate structure showed deficiency of the AChR-associated protein utrophin. These patients appear to have a defect in the development or maintenance of the postsynaptic clefts; whether this defect results from or causes a reduced expression of utrophin or AChR is unclear.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0028-3878
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
50
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
54-61
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Congenital myasthenic syndromes in two kinships with end-plate acetylcholine receptor and utrophin deficiency.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't