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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

An Improved Method to Isolate Mitochondrial Contact Sites
Published on: June 16, 2023
Mitochondrial ophthalmoplegia with fatigable weakness and elevated acetylcholine receptor antibody
Raed Behbehani1, Khaja Sharfuddin, J T Anim
1Department of Ophthalmology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait. r_behbehani@hotmail.com
Abstract:
A 25-year-old man with chronically progressive ptosis and bilateral ophthalmoplegia displayed fatigability and fluctuation of ptosis, an abnormal single-fiber electromyogram, and a markedly elevated acetylcholine receptor antibody level. Yet a muscle biopsy showed clear evidence of a mitochondrial cytopathy, and the clinical features did not improve after treatment with prednisone. This case emphasizes the difficulty in differentiating mitochondrial cytopathy from myasthenia gravis and points out that elevated acetylcholine receptor antibody levels may occur in nonmyasthenic conditions.
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