Acquired neuromyotonia in a patient with spinal epidural abscess

Muscle Nerve. 1998 May;21(5):672-4. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199805)21:5<672::aid-mus21>3.0.co;2-w.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

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

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Potassium Channels