[Acute respiratory insufficiency revealing myasthenia gravis: apropos of 3 cases].

BACKGROUND

Myasthenia gravis is usually revealed by a ptosis or a diplopia. A respiratory muscle weakness often occurs during the course but an acute respiratory failure as initial feature is unusual.

CASE REPORTS: Three girls, aged 8, 10 and 14 years, were hospitalised in an intensive care unit, along a 15 year-period, for an acute respiratory distress. The first two children suffered from skeletal and bulbar muscle weakness. The third, admitted with the diagnosis of unexplained pneumonia, was complaining of skeletal and bulbar muscle weakness for the last 18 months. Myasthenia gravis was confirmed with electromyography, and detection of the acetylcholine-receptors antibodies in all three cases.

CONCLUSION

Any unexplained acute respiratory distress must lead to search for skeletal and bulbar muscle weakness, specially after muscular exercise or at the end of day, manifestations which characterize myasthenia gravis.