Myasthenic syndrome; Eaton-Lambert syndrome; Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome; LEMS

Symptoms may include:

• Weakness or loss of movement that can be more or less severe, including:
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Difficulty climbing stairs
  • Difficulty lifting objects
  • Difficulty talking
  • Drooping head
  • Need to use hands to get up from sitting or lying positions
• Swallowing difficulty, gagging, or choking
• Vision changes such as:
  • Blurry vision
  • Double vision
  • Problems keeping a steady gaze

Symptoms related to the autonomic nervous system usually occur, and include:

• Blood pressure changes
• Dizziness upon standing
• Dry mouth

A detailed medical history will be taken to determine risk factors, such as a history of certain cancers.

A physical examination shows:

• Decreased reflexes
• Possible loss of muscle tissue
• Weakness or paralysis that gets slightly better with activity

Tests to help diagnose and confirm the condition may include:

• Electromyography (EMG) to test the health of the muscle fibers
• Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) to test the speed of electrical activity along nerves

Images

Superficial anterior muscles

Previous Section

Lambert Overview

Next Section

Lambert Treatment

Review Date: 08/27/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)