NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE MIMICKING MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN A NIGERIAN FEMALE ADOLESCENT: COULD THIS BE NEMALINE ROD DISEASE?

BACKGROUND

Nemaline rod disease is a congenital myopathy, presentation of which may mimic myasthenia gravis.

METHOD: We report a suspected case of nemaline rod disease in a female adolescent who presented with features similar to myasthenia gravis but failed to respond effectively to its conventional management. She had features of respiratory failure and cardiomyopathy.

RESULTS

Patient had a turbulent clinical course and finally succumbed to illness on the fifth day of admission.

CONCLUSION

This report is meant to sensitize child neurologists and general paediatricians on the need to have a broad spectrum of considerations in the management of suspected myasthenia gravis, especially when response to anticholinesterase is poor.